Louis Peter Surin vs State Of Jharkhand

The Supreme Court held that the delay of seventeen and a half years in taking cognizance of the case against the appellant under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC was impermissible, referencing the principles established in Mahendra Lal Dua vs. State of Bihar and Ramanand Chaudhary vs. State of Bihar. The Court emphasized that the absence of a prima facie case after two prior refusals for sanction to prosecute indicated that the proceedings were stale and should be quashed. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the proceedings against the appellant were set aside.