An important decision of the Supreme Court in corruption cases has come to the fore. In cases of taking or giving bribe, there can be punished even if there is no direct evidence. The Supreme Court says that in such cases, conviction can be based on circumstantial evidence. A five-judge constitution bench has taken this decision. The Supreme Court has given its verdict regarding the conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act on the basis of circumstantial inferences in the absence of direct evidence regarding the demand or giving of bribe.
A five-judge constitution bench in the Supreme Court, after completing the hearing in the matter on November 22, had reserved the verdict. A 5-judge bench of Justice S Abdul Nazeer, Justice BR Gavai, Justice AS Bopanna, Justice V Ramasubramanian and Justice BV Nagaratna gave its verdict. The Supreme Court said that the court should not be soft against the corrupt.
The Court said that corrupt officials should be booked and held guilty, as corruption has taken a major part affecting governance. It has an impact on honest officers. A corrupt public official can be convicted even on the basis of circumstantial evidence when there is no direct evidence against him.