Moot Desposition

Deposition of PW1: Ritesh Arora (Defacto Complainant)

My name is Ritesh Arora, a 30-year-old software engineer living in Hafeeznagar, Meghwada. On August 30, 2012, my father, Subir Arora, applied to the Tahsildar of Hafeeznagar to have his name mutated in the revenue records. This application was then sent to the Mandal Revenue Inspector, who forwarded it to the Village Revenue Officer (VRO), Rajendra Kumar, for verification. During several visits, Rajendra Kumar demanded a bribe of Rs. 5,00,000 to process the application which was later reduced to Rs. 3,50,000. Unable to pay the bribe, I reported the matter to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the Corruption Eradication Bureau (CEB) in Kalingapur on November 15, 2012. The CEB registered the complaint on November 16, 2012 and arranged a trap. The very next day, I, along with Kamal Khanna, left from the CEB office in Kalingapur around noon in two vehicles and reached the Hafeeznagar MRO office by 12:30 PM. The DSP of the CEB reiterated the instructions to us. Upon entering the office, we learned that AO is absent at the site and informed it to the DSP. Following the DSP's instructions, I contacted the AO by mobile phone and was told that the he was at the Hafeeznagar Elementary School and asked us to meet him there. We then went to the school and met the AO, who then asked us to come to his house. At the AO's house, located on the first floor, the AO asked if we had brought the bribe amount, to which I replied affirmatively and handed over it to him. The AO then counted it and placed it in a table drawer. I then gave a pre-arranged signal to the CEB who caught the VRO red- handed. They seized the tainted money and arrested him on the spot. The claim of AO that I implored his hand for completion of my work is false.

Deposition of PW2: Subir Arora (Father of the Defacto Complainant)

I am Subir Arora, a 60-year-old retired government employee from Hafeeznagar, Meghwada. On August 30, 2012, I submitted an application to have my name entered into the revenue records. The application was processed through the Tahsildar and the Mandal Revenue Inspector before reaching Rajendra Kumar, the VRO. Despite our repeated visits, Rajendra Kumar demanded a bribe of Rs. 5,00,000 which was later reduced to Rs. 3,50,000, to process the verification report. My son, Ritesh, chose to report the matter to the CEB, which led to a trap being set by the officers. On November 17, 2012, Rajendra Kumar was caught accepting the bribe from my son and was subsequently arrested by the CEB.

Deposition of PW3: Syed Imtiaz (DSP CEB Kalingapur)

Syed Imtiaz, aged 50, serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Corruption Eradication Bureau in Kalingapur. Upon receiving a complaint from Ritesh Arora on November 15, 2012, regarding a bribe demand by Rajendra Kumar, we verified the complaint and initiated legal proceedings. We coordinated a sting operation with two impartial mediators. On November 17, 2012, Ritesh Arora delivered the bribe to Rajendra Kumar as part of the operation. Rajendra Kumar was apprehended in the act, he appeared nervous and clueless upon the arrival of CEB team at his house, and the marked money was confiscated. He was promptly arrested and subsequently presented in court.

Deposition of PW4: Kamal Khanna (Independent Mediator)

My name is Kamal Khanna, a 38-year-old businessman from Kalingapur. On November 17, 2012, I was asked by the CEB to act as an independent mediator - in a trap operation. Ritesh Arora and I departed from the CEB office and upon arrival at the MRI office, learnt that the AO is absent. After waiting for 45 minutes, Ritesh called the VRO. The AO asked us to meet him at Hafeeznagar Elementary School. We went there and then to the AO's house, where he asked if we had the bribe money. During this operation, I witnessed Ritesh Arora handing over the bribe money to Rajendra Kumar, who was subsequently apprehended by CEB officers as soon as Ritesh Aurora signalled them after coming out of the building. I verified that the serial numbers and denominations. The money was confiscated, and I signed as a witness to the seizure and arrest. During police questioning, I initially stated I hadn't met Ritesh Arora before, but it was pointed out by the defense that we had previously met in a local business setting, suggesting a potential bias. Additionally, I admitted that I was not fully familiar with CEB procedures and relied on the instructions of the officers, which the defense argued could impact my credibility as an independent mediator. Despite these issues, I maintain that my testimony stands true: Rajendra Kumar was caught accepting the bribe.

Deposition of PW5: Jitendra Kumar (Independent Mediator)

I, Jitendra Kumar, aged 42 and employed as a school teacher in Kalingapur, was enlisted by the CEB as an independent mediator for a trap operation on November 17, 2012. Alongside another mediator, I witnessed Ritesh Arora delivering a bribe of Rs. 3,50,000 to Rajendra Kumar. Subsequently, CEB officers apprehended Rajendra Kumar in the act of accepting the bribe and confiscated the marked money. I authenticated the seizure process by signing the relevant documents as a witness to the entire event.

Deposition of PW6: Sonali Singh (CEB Forensic Analyst)

My name is Sonali Singh, and I am a 35-year-old forensic analyst employed by the Corruption Eradication Bureau in Kalingapur. On November 17, 2012, I conducted forensic analysis on the marked currency seized from Rajendra Kumar. My examination confirmed the presence of phenolphthalein powder on the notes and pink traces on the left-hand fingers of the AO, which had been applied during the trap operation. The forensic report detailing these findings was submitted as evidence in the case.

Deposition of PW7: Satyapal (Mandal Revenue In-charge, Hafeeznagar)

I worked as the Mandal Revenue In-charge of Hafeeznagar. I have forwarded the application of the complainant to the VRO which I received from the then Tahsildar. Under usual procedure, the VRO is not authorised to conduct mutation and issue pattadar passbooks but to verify the land record at field level. Further, the unique number on the passbook would be given only after the mutation.

Deposition of DW1: B. Nilkamal (Present Tahsildar of Hafeeznagar)

I, B. Nilkamal, aged 48, currently serving as the Tahsildar of Hafeeznagar, am providing this deposition in support of Rajendra Kumar. In my capacity as Tahsildar, I am familiar with the procedures related to changing names in revenue records. The application has beem forwarded from my end to Rajendra Kumar as he was the VRO. Following the arrest of Rajendra Kumar, I reviewed Subir Arora's application and verified that all necessary documents were submitted correctly. Being a VRO he was occupied with some other work at my office, that might have cause him to respond a little later towards the application but other than that I found no valid reasons to delay the verification process. And i believe that any allegations of misconduct or bribery against Rajendra Kumar are unfounded and without merit.