DEVI SINGH vs STATE

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment Reserved on: 23.04.2026 Judgment pronounced on: 28.04.2026 CRL.A. 523/2005 DEVI SINGH .....Appellant Through: Mr. Ajay Verma, Advocate (through VC). versus STATE .....Respondent Through: Mr. Utkarsh, APP for the State. CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA JUDGMENT CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA, J. 1. This appeal under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (the Cr.P.C.) read with Section 27 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (the PC act) has been filed by the sole accused in C.C. No. 19/1997 on the file of the Court of Special Judge, Delhi challenging the conviction entered and sentence passed against him for the offence punishable under Section 8 of the PC act. 2. The prosecution case is that on 13.02.1996, at about 01:10 PM, the accused accepted an illegal gratification of ₹1,700/- from PW8 as a motive or reward for inducing public servants within the rationing department to perform an official act, that is, the preparation of a ration card in the name of Ishwar Singh Swamy, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 8 of the PC Act. 3. On 13.02.1996, PW8 lodged a complaint, that is, Ext. PW8