Court Grants Bail to Suspended Police SI in ₹5-Lakh Graft Case

A significant development has emerged in the legal proceedings surrounding the ₹5-lakh graft case from October 2023, as suspended Sub-Inspector (SI) Krishan Kumar of Chandigarh Police has been granted bail by a special CBI court, two months after his initial arrest.

Krishan Kumar, along with another SI from the economic offences wing, Hussain Akhtar, found themselves entangled in legal troubles when they were booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. Allegations surfaced that they had purportedly demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh from a city resident to absolve his brother of charges in a GST fraud case.

The complainant, Ram Mehar Sharma, detailed to the CBI how his brother became embroiled in the GST fraud case due to the misuse of his identity documents by a friend. Sharma asserted that the accused officers had demanded the illegal gratification, threatening to initiate proclaimed offender proceedings against his brother if he failed to comply.

Despite multiple encounters with the two accused officers in September, Sharma resisted paying the bribe and instead reported the matter to the CBI. Subsequently, a trap was set, leading to Akhtar’s arrest as he was caught red-handed accepting the bribe. However, Kumar managed to evade capture initially, fleeing with ₹2.5 lakh.

After evading law enforcement for four months, Kumar eventually surrendered before a special CBI court in February this year, maintaining his innocence and claiming false implication.

During the bail plea, Kumar argued against his continued detention, pointing out that his co-accused had already been granted bail. He further contended that the trial would likely be protracted, with mostly official witnesses, minimizing the risk of witness tampering.

In opposition, the CBI expressed concerns that Kumar’s release on bail might lead to witness intimidation, potentially compromising the integrity of the trial.

After careful consideration, the court deemed it unnecessary to prolong Kumar’s custody, granting him bail on bail bonds of ₹50,000, with one surety of the same amount. This decision marks a significant turn in the legal proceedings, allowing Kumar to await trial outside of detention.

The case continues to unfold, with legal scrutiny intensifying as it progresses through the judicial system.

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