MP HC Acquits Woman After 13 Years Of Conviction Of Charges Of Disappearance Of Evidence Of Offence [Read Judgment]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has acquitted a woman from charges of section 201 of IPC after over 13 years of her conviction with her husband in a bribe case.

A special court in Satna on 8.12.2003 convicted the appellants Ram Kumar Gupta for offence punishable under sections 7 read with 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 while his wife Mamta Gupta under section 201 of IPC.

During the pendency of the appeal, Ram Kumar Gupta died on 11.10.2013. On an application filed by his wife, she was permitted to pursue the appeal on behalf of her husband as well.

The court find the ‘prosecution has failed to prove’ that wife Mamta Gupta was aware of the fact that Rs. 500 given by her husband was a tainted money which the complainant gave and it is normal conduct of the husband asking wife to get the money exchanged and accordingly she went to get the money exchanged in neighborhood.

A division bench of Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice CV Sirpurkar said “as in the absence of having knowledge that Rs.500/- given to Mamta for exchange, were part of the illegal gratification given to Ram Kumar Gupta, she cannot be convicted for an offence under Section 201 of the I.P.C”.

Read the Judgment here.