Chennai: The Madras high court has observed that one who receives bribe alone cannot be punished. The person who gives bribe, under any circumstance, is also to be blamed.
Denying anticipatory bail to a person, who allegedly cheated an aspirant of medical course, Justice S. Vaidyanathan said, “If doctors are going to be qualified only on the basis of money and not on merit, the safety of the patients, who undergo treatment under them, is a million dollar question.
To put an end to this offence, the income tax department should be set in motion, so that they will probe into the assets and liabilities of such offenders and ascertain their source of income through which they have paid the bribe”.
The judge has directed the high court registry to send a copy of this order to the commissioner of income tax, Nungambakkam, to enable him initiate action in such type of cases.
Police authorities are expected to furnish the details of the offenders to the income tax department to enable them take action against the person, who is alleged to have given bribe.
According to prosecution, S.K.Durairaj, Kothari Apartments, Thiruvanmiyur, had cheated an MBBS course aspirant to the tune of Rs 20 lakh. Durairaj allegedly collected the amount from him promising that he would get a medical seat.
However, he neither secured him the medical seat nor repaid the amount.
Hence, he filed a complaint against him in Foreshore Estate police
Challenging this, counsel for the petitioner submitted that the Durairaj borrowed Rs 25 lakh from the candidate in 2014 and issued a cheque as security for the same and out of the loan amount, Rs 24 lakh was paid to him and a dispute arose with him over interest and the cheque issued as security was not returned to him. Apprehending arrest, he approached the court seeking anticipatory bail.
Dismissing the plea, the judge said the offence alleged against Durairaj is serious in nature, his custodial interrogation is required in the case. Hence, this court is not inclined to grant the relief sought by the petitioner.
