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Tiwari was taken into custody on December 1 this year after the DVAC alleged he was caught accepting a bribe
Enforcement Directorate Officer Ankit Tiwari, apprehended last week by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on charges of accepting a Rs 20 lakh bribe, has filed a plea before the Madras High Court seeking bail.
The bench of Justice V Sivagnanam at Madurai ordered the DVAC and the Tamil Nadu government to respond to Tiwari's bail request by December 19.
Tiwari was taken into custody on December 1 this year after the DVAC alleged he was caught accepting a bribe and intimidating a Dindigul district doctor. The DVAC asserted that Tiwari had demanded Rs 3 crore from the doctor to settle pending cases. Eventually settling on Rs 51 lakh, the doctor purportedly paid him Rs 20 lakh.
In his bail plea, Tiwari contended that the case against him was malicious, asserting no pending cases existed against the doctor in question. Therefore, he argued, that there was no basis for him to exert influence to close cases or demand a bribe.
Citing Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, Tiwari argued that an officer can only be prosecuted if they receive gratification, other than legal remuneration, as a motive or reward for official acts. He maintained that no motive existed for him to demand a bribe in this instance.
Tiwari emphasized that his ongoing detention posed risks to his mental and physical well-being, urging the court to grant him bail.
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