HARBANS SINGH vs STATE OF PUNJAB .

The Supreme Court clarified that under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, a minimum sentence is mandated, and any reduction below this minimum must be supported by special reasons recorded in writing. The Court held that the reasons provided by the High Court for reducing the sentence to that already undergone were not special and constituted a legal error. Consequently, the special leave petition was dismissed, emphasizing that the dismissal does not affirm the High Court's order.