#Public Servant Misconduct

Kerala High Court ruled that failure to communicate grounds of arrest in writing under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) does not vitiate the arrest itself, though it remains a mandatory constitutional requirement. The court granted bail to a Deputy Superintendent of Police accused of demanding Rs. 2 lakh as bribe, emphasizing that procedural lapses do not automatically invalidate criminal proceedings against public servants.

Orissa HC affirms conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act for falsifying bank records but reduces sentence to one week rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 30,000 fine, citing the appellant’s advanced age and unprecedented 45-year trial delay. The ruling underscores that individual liability persists even if co-accused are acquitted, setting a precedent for proportional sentencing in delayed prosecutions.

Kerala High Court reaffirms that conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act requires conclusive proof of both demand and acceptance of bribes, not merely circumstantial evidence. The ruling clarifies that corroboration by a decoy witness is not essential if the prosecution's evidence meets the beyond-reasonable-doubt standard, impacting corruption trials involving public servants.

CAT Patna holds that misappropriation of even small MGNREGA funds warrants dismissal; intent and breach of trust outweigh repayment or procedural delays.