#Official Duty

The Bombay High Court acquitted an accused under Section 353 IPC, holding that mere threat of self-immolation, absent physical assault or proven discharge of official duty by the victim, cannot satisfy the essential ingredients of the offence. This clarifies the boundary between intimidation and criminal assault against public servants, impacting how prosecutors must frame charges in similar cases.

Madras HC rules that a bank branch manager can be prosecuted for criminal conspiracy under IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for submitting forged pre-sanction inspection reports, even if loan sanction authority lies elsewhere. The court held that facilitating fraudulent disbursement through false documentation constitutes prima facie criminal liability, rejecting the manager’s discharge plea.

Bombay High Court holds that prosecution under Prevention of Corruption Act must prove nexus between demand for bribe and pending official work; absence of such link defeats conviction.