After 39 Years, Chhattisgarh High Court Acquits Man In Rs 100 Bribery Case

The Chhattisgarh High Court has issued a pivotal ruling, exemplifying that justice, though delayed, is ultimately not denied.

Following a 39-year legal struggle, Jageshwar Prasad Awasthi, formerly employed as a billing assistant at the Madhya Pradesh State Transport Corporation, has been cleared of corruption charges involving a mere Rs 100.

A lower court had previously imposed a one-year imprisonment sentence on him in 2004 for allegedly soliciting a bribe, but Justice Bibhu Dutta Guru of the High Court has now completely reversed this decision, citing insufficient evidence.

The incident traces back to 1986, when Mr. Awasthi was accused of demanding a Rs 100 bribe from employee Ashok Kumar Verma for processing arrears. Following a complaint, the Lokayukta organized a sting operation using currency notes treated with phenolphthalein. Despite Mr. Awasthi being found with the marked notes, the High Court identified critical flaws in the prosecution's arguments.

The court noted several deficiencies: no independent witness confirmed the demand for money; the shadow witness admitted neither hearing the conversation nor witnessing the acceptance; government witnesses positioned 20-25 yards away couldn't possibly observe the transaction; and confusion existed about whether the alleged bribe comprised one Rs 100 note or two Rs 50 notes.

Mr. Awasthi additionally contended that during the alleged incident, he lacked bill-passing authority, which he only received a month later. The court affirmed that merely recovering tainted currency doesn't establish guilt without evidence of intent and demand. Citing multiple Supreme Court precedents, the judge determined the trap operation had failed and the conviction couldn't be sustained.

After nearly four decades, Jageshwar Prasad Awasthi has been completely exonerated, in a case highlighting both the shortcomings of extended litigation and the endurance of the justice system.