The Supreme Court of India upheld the conviction of a public official in a 1990 corruption case involving the acceptance of a bribe of ₹500.

The Court found that the prosecution had successfully proved the demand and acceptance of the bribe through trap proceedings conducted by anti-corruption authorities.

The evidence included the phenolphthalein test, which confirmed that the accused had handled the tainted currency notes.

The Court observed that the trap evidence and witness testimony were reliable and consistent, thereby affirming the findings of the lower courts.

However, considering that the convict is now 75 years old and that the case dates back more than three decades, the Court exercised discretion to reduce the sentence while maintaining the conviction.

The judgment reiterates the principle that corruption in public office cannot be condoned regardless of the amount involved.