Agra: Observing that the prosecution had completely failed to establish the charges, a special court in Agra has acquitted two Mandi Samiti employees accused of illegally stopping a truck driver and extorting Rs 200 near Saiyan toll plaza in Sept 2022.
The accused, Hariom Singh and Roshan Lal, both in their 40s, were facing trial under IPC Sections 384 (extortion) and 411 (receiving stolen property), as well as Sections 7/8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On Sept 1, 2022, truck driver Jayant Kumar was transporting onions from Madhya Pradesh to Bulandshahr when a white SUV bearing a UP govt marking intercepted his vehicle near Saiyan toll plaza, according to the prosecution. Three occupants allegedly checked his papers and demanded Rs 200 to let him proceed. Following a complaint, police arrested the duo and claimed to recover two Rs 100 notes from them.
In its judgment, special judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Mridul Dubey said, “It is clear and established that the prosecution has completely failed to prove the charges levelled against the accused. No evidence on record supports the charges. In such circumstances, the accused are entitled to be acquitted. However, the case collapsed during trial when the complainant turned hostile, denied that any bribe was demanded, refused to identify the accused, and stated that police had taken his signatures on blank papers. Highlighting the fatal gaps in the case, the judge observed, “All the witnesses of fact denied the entire incident and refused to identify the accused. Even the complainant denied his own complaint. Finding no evidence to sustain the charges, the court acquitted both men and cancelled their bail bonds.
Additionally, the court flagged critical investigative lapses, noting that the investigating officer failed to document the attachment of toll plaza CCTV footage in the case diary.