#prior sanction

Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 does not apply to allegations of demanding a bribe unrelated to official functions, meaning prior sanction is not required and clarifying immunity in cases against public servants.

The Chhattisgarh High Court affirmed that prosecution for distributing blasphemous material targeting the Kabir Panthi community requires and properly obtained prior sanction under Section 196 CrPC, reinforcing that malicious intent must be proven through concrete evidence of religious outrage. This sets a critical precedent for balancing free expression with protected religious sentiments in India’s criminal jurisprudence.