New Delhi: The Supreme Court has given its verdict in a decades-old bribery case involving a former excise constable from Uttarakhand. The case dates back to 1990 when the constable was caught accepting a Rs 500 bribe during a trap operation.

On June 19, 1990, the constable was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe. An FIR was registered against him, and the matter was committed to trial. In 2006, the trial court convicted him under the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment.

The officer challenged the conviction before the Uttarakhand High Court. In 2012, the High Court dismissed his appeal and upheld the trial court’s decision.

Supreme Court’s Decision

The constable then approached the Supreme Court. On March 13, 2026, a bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and P. B. Varale upheld the conviction, ruling that there was no error in the High Court’s judgment.

However, the court considered the fact that the accused is now 75 years old and had already spent more than two months in jail. Taking these circumstances into account, the bench reduced the sentence to one year.

The judges observed that while corruption cannot be tolerated, punishment must also consider age and time already spent in custody. They said the minimum sentence under the law would be sufficient in this case.

Long Legal Journey

The constable has been on bail since January 2013 while pursuing his appeal before the apex court. With the latest ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed his conviction but modified the punishment.

The case highlights how long legal proceedings can take in corruption matters. From the initial trap in 1990 to the final Supreme Court judgment in 2026, the matter has spanned 36 years.

At the same time, the court showed leniency considering the advanced age of the accused. The former constable will now serve a reduced sentence of one year.