Jaipur, March 21– In a major relief for former IAS officer Nannumal Pahadia, the Rajasthan High Court has quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against him in an ACB bribery case. The case involved allegations of demanding a monthly bribe from a road construction company during his tenure as Alwar Collector.
No Evidence Linking Pahadia to Bribery, Rules High Court
Justice Ganesh Ram Meena, while allowing Pahadia’s criminal petition, ruled that there was no substantial evidence to support the allegation that Pahadia demanded or accepted bribes.
Key observations from the court:
- Pahadia had no pending work related to the complainant.
- The trap proceedings resulted in recovery of cash from co-accused Ashok Sankhla’s driver, not from Pahadia himself.
- Pahadia had already been transferred from the Alwar Collector post before the complaint was filed.
- No concrete evidence was produced to prove that Pahadia instructed or received any illegal payment.
Background of the Case
The case stems from a complaint filed by Iqbal Singh, a representative of KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd., on April 22, 2022. The company was working on the Delhi-Vadodara Expressway. The FIR alleged that Pahadia demanded ₹4 lakh monthly, while Land Management Officer Ashok Sankhla demanded ₹50,000 monthly to ensure smooth progress of the project.
The ACB later trapped Sankhla’s driver Nitin Sharma, but no direct evidence surfaced against Pahadia. Nonetheless, a chargesheet was filed implicating him, prompting him to move the High Court for relief.
Court’s Additional Observations
- The conversation between Sankhla and Pahadia lacked any mention of bribe.
- The complainant filed the report after Pahadia had vacated the post, undermining the prosecution’s timeline.
- The court emphasized its duty to relieve the burden of false or evidence-lacking cases from lower courts, allowing focus on genuine matters.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
