Former Prosecutor Faces Jail Time for Bribery

A former additional public prosecutor, aged 64, has been handed down a six-month jail term for bribery by a court in Thane. Known for being convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Sandhya Bacchav was found guilty of soliciting a Rs 10000 bribe from a woman facing trial.

The case dates back to April 2013, when Bacchav, serving as an APP in the Thane district court, demanded the bribe for legal favorability. After the woman reported the incident to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, officials laid a trap in the court precincts, capturing Bacchav red-handed.

Despite her defense counsel's plea for leniency citing her age and health issues, the prosecution contested for a strict punishment due to the severity of the offence. The court balanced these factors and imposed six months of imprisonment, and ordered the confiscated bribe be sent to the RBI since the notes are demonetised.