A retired rationing officer in Mumbai has been acquitted in a 2015 corruption case after the court found the prosecution's evidence to be unconvincing, highlighting significant loopholes in the investigation.
A special court here on Friday acquitted a retired assistant rationing officer in a 2015 corruption case, ruling that the prosecution "failed to adduce cogent and convincing evidence".
Sanjay Sawardekar was acquitted of all the charges by Special Judge for Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases Shayana Patil.
In June 2015, complainant Hitesh Ganatra alleged Sawardekar and another senior officer had demanded Rs 1 lakh to execute a government order related to transferring a rationing shop licence in the name of the complainant's son.
The amount was later reduced to Rs 80,000, with the accused instructing the complainant to leave the money in his office drawer, the prosecution said. Later, the Anti Corruption Bureau laid a trap and held the public servant with the bribe amount.
The court highlighted several loopholes in the prosecution's evidence. It also pointed out that the prosecution did not call the complainant's son to testify, despite him being the "prime witness" who was allegedly present during the initial bribe demands.
Although the ACB claimed the money was treated with anthracene powder, the IO failed to examine the desk drawer or the hands of the panch witness under UV light to confirm the presence of the powder, the court said.
"Thus, the prosecution has failed to adduce cogent and convincing evidence in support of the case," the court said.