The Delhi High Court has brought a definitive end to a three-decade-long legal ordeal, acquitting two former government engineers of corruption charges dating back to 1991. In a significant judgment, the court overturned a 2002 trial court conviction, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish the most critical element of a bribery charge: the “demand” for illegal gratification.
In a verdict delivered on April 2, 2026, Justice Chandrashekharan Sudha set aside the conviction of Assistant Engineer VK Datta and Junior Engineer Dinesh Garg. The duo, formerly with the Delhi government’s flood control department, had been fighting allegations for 34 years that they demanded a combined bribe of ₹1,800 (₹900 each) to clear a contractor’s bills. The High Court held that the evidence presented by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was “unsatisfactory” and failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case originated on September 20, 1991, when the CBI registered an FIR based on a complaint that the engineers were demanding money to facilitate the release of pending payments for a contractor. Following a “trap” operation, both officials were arrested. Over a decade later, in September 2002, a trial court found them guilty and sentenced them to two years of imprisonment. The engineers subsequently moved the High Court, maintaining their innocence and alleging false implication.
Appearing for the appellants, senior advocate Sunil Dalal and advocate Sameer Chandra argued that the entire prosecution narrative was fundamentally flawed. They highlighted that:
- Presence at Site: Official muster rolls showed that at the time the alleged demand was made, the engineers were at an inspection site, not in the office.
- No Dues Pending: Testimony from departmental witnesses revealed that no payments were actually due to the contractor at the relevant time, meaning there was no motive to seek a bribe.
- Procedural Lapses: The defense pointed out that the FIR was registered suspiciously early—allegedly even before the complainant had fully submitted the complaint at the CBI office.
The CBI’s counsel, special public prosecutor Atul Guleria, contended that the trial court’s judgment was sound and based on a comprehensive appreciation of the evidence, including the recovery of the money.
The High Court’s 48-page verdict emphasized that under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the mere recovery of currency notes is insufficient for conviction. The court observed:
“The failure of the prosecution to examine the aforesaid crucial witnesses coupled with the aforesaid inconsistencies brought out in the materials, raises further doubts in the mind of the court.”
Justice Sudha noted that the prosecution failed to examine the contractor directly involved in the financial transactions and that there were glaring contradictions regarding the timeline of events. The court reiterated a settled legal principle: “Suspicion, however strong, cannot replace proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Setting aside the 24-year-old conviction order, the High Court granted the “benefit of doubt” to both VK Datta and Dinesh Garg. The court directed that they be set at liberty, effectively clearing their names after a legal struggle that spanned nearly their entire professional lives and retirement.
