The Bombay High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Additional Tehsildar of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, accused of demanding a ₹3 lakh bribe in connection with land mutation files. Justice Advait M. Sethna, while dismissing the plea observed that the case presented a prima facie instance of organized corruption involving agents and middlemen, backed by CCTV evidence and a successful trap operation.
The FIR, registered on May 16, 2025, under Sections 7(a) and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, was based on a complaint which alleged that the accused agent demanded ₹60,000 per file for processing mutation entries. During the trap, ₹60,000 was accepted by a private individual allegedly working on accused’s behalf. CCTV footage reportedly showed accused receiving cash from the co-accused, and repeated visits by these individuals to his office.
The Court noted that the accused’s previous involvement in similar corruption cases and an ongoing disproportionate assets inquiry. The Court also held that his custodial interrogation was necessary to investigate the network of corruption and misuse of public office. The Judge also criticised the accused’s conduct during the bail proceedings, including filing unauthorised documents just before order pronouncement.
Citing precedents like Anil Sharma v. CBI and Subramanian Swamy v. Manmohan Singh, 2012 (3) SCC 64, the Court emphasised the need for a strict stance against corruption and rejected the plea, holding that the accused’s influential position and evasion of due process warranted immediate custodial interrogation.
Appearances:
Applicant: Mr. Rajendraa S. Deshmukh, Senior Counsel instructed by Mr. R. B. Ade, Advocate for the Applicant.
Respondent: Mr. S. B. Narwade, APP for the State.
Mr. R. D. Biradar, Advocate for the Informant.
