Supreme Court Acquits Public Servant in 1993 Case, Flags Irrelevant Evidence in Corruption

The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticised the use of voluminous and irrelevant evidence in corruption cases while acquitting a former public servant in a case dating back to 1993 [Khanindra Kr Dutta v. CBI]. A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran noted that the prosecution had examined 62 witnesses, while the High Court had referred to the evidence of only 9 of them.The Court said that lengthy evidence in corruption cases could often intimidate courts, particularly when much of the material was not relevant.“In corruption cases voluminous evidence is led, which is often intimidating to the Court, especially since many aspects attempted to be led in evidence are way off the mark, in providing a substantiation of the allegation, or to bring home the guilt of the accused-public servant...Prosecution in corruption cases have a history of long pendency; especially because of the voluminous evidence led, which often is unnecessary and as we noticed, mostly irrelevant," it said. Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Vinod ChandranSupreme CourtProsecution in corruption cases have a history of long pendency; especially because of the voluminous evidence led, which often is unnecessary and as we noticed, mostly irrelevant.The Court was hearing an appeal by one Khanindra Dutta, a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon and store-in-charge in Assam’s Veterinary Department, who had been convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with allegations that false bills were rai