Allahabad High Court grants bail to Bank Manager accused of demanding bribe for sanctioning loan under PM Rojgar Guarantee scheme

The Allahabad High Court recently allowed bail plea moved by a man, who while working as a Branch Manager at Union Bank of India, had allegedly demanded Rs.1,00,000 as a bribe for sanctioning loan amount of Rs.10,00,000 under Prime Minister's Rojgar Guarantee Scheme (PMEGP).

The bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh found the case fit for bail considering the facts and circumstances of the matter and accused's period of incarceration.

One Anil Kumar, the complainant in the case, applied for loan of Rs.10 Lakhs in PMEGP) with the Union Bank of India's branch Chitara Mahmoodpur, District Azamgarh. The accused, namely Sarvesh Kumar Yadav, was the branch manager at that time.

For sanctioning Anil Kumar's loan, the accused allegedly demanded bribe, however, the matter was reported to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Thereafter, the CBI constituted a trap team and the accused was caught read handed accepting Rs.60,000 as bribe from the complainant Anil Kumar.

A case was then registered against Anil Kumar under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at CBI/ACB Police Station in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Pressing for accused bail, his counsel told the court that she did not want to argue the case on its merit instead the accused might be enlarged on bail looking at his long incarceration. The counsel further submitted that the accused was not in a position to influence the witness or tamper with the evidence during trial and he will cooperate in the trial for its early conclusion.

Moreover, thought the counsel for the CBI opposed the bail plea, he not dispute the fact that the accused would not be in a position to tamper with the evidence.

Therefore, court held that it was a fit case for granting bail and ordered that the accused v be released on bail in the aforesaid case on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of the Magistrate/Court concerned.

Court also directed that the trial court shall make every endeavour to conclude the trial preferably within a period of one year.

Case Title: Sarvesh Kumar Yadav v. State through CBI, ACB