Supreme Court: The case of corruption related to only two rupees reached the Supreme Court. Two decades ago in 2003, he recovered only two rupees more for stamp paper, for which a case of corruption was registered against him and the lower court sentenced him in 2008, the High Court also retained the sentence. However, the Supreme Court overturned the sentence and acquitted the accused.
Stamp seller recovered 2 rupees more, the matter lasted for 20 years
The question arose before the Supreme Court whether the stamp vendor would be considered a public servant. And can they be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act? The Supreme Court had said, “Stamp seller is a public servant,” but in this case, he canceled the sentence given by the trial court to a stamp seller to take a bribe of two rupees.
The arrest was made under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The incident took place on 9 December 2003 at the Janakpuri Sub-registrar office. A stamp seller received Rs. Stamp paper worth 10 rupees. He asked for Rs 12 in lieu of Rs 10. He was given chemicals received notes, later arrested under the Anti -Corruption Act and prosecuted under the PC Act.
The lower court sentenced him to one year imprisonment and a fine of one thousand rupees.
In 2008, the trial court found him guilty as a public servant and sentenced him to one year in jail and a fine of one thousand rupees. The Delhi High Court took 6 years to settle the case and retained the sentence.
Later, the appeal in the Supreme Court remained pending for 11 years. The Supreme Court said that the stamp vendor was released for lack of evidence as the investigating officers failed to prove the allegations. However, the Supreme Court clarified that the stamp vendor would be considered a public servant.
