A Step Towards Fighting Corruption: The Case Of Neeraj Dutt V. State (Govt. Of Delhi NCT)
- IJLLR Journal
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
Shazia Khatoon, The West Bengal National Law University of Juridical Sciences
ABSTRACT
Corruption is a cancer: a cancer that eats away at a citizen's faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already- tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments. It wastes the talent of entire generations. It scares away investments and jobs. 1Corruption remains one of the biggest challenges in governance and law enforcement. This paper analyzes how circumstantial evidence plays a crucial role in convicting individuals accused of corruption. Using Neeraj Dutt v. State (Govt. of Delhi NCT) (2022) as a case study, this paper examines how courts interpret indirect evidence in bribery and financial crime cases. Additionally, the research expands on other notable corruption cases, including the 2G Spectrum Scam, Coal Scam and Commonwealth Games Scam, to illustrate how circumstantial evidence is utilized in legal proceedings. This paper also explores various criminological theories, such as Routine Activity Theory, Strain Theory, and Institutional Anomie Theory, to explain why corruption thrives in certain environments. Furthermore, legal reforms, policy changes, and technological advancements such as digital forensics and whistleblower protection laws are discussed as mechanisms to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks. This article sheds light on the importance of circumstantial evidence, types of clues & tell-tale signs, its admissibility, and probative value. The paper discusses circumstantial evidence in bribery cases. It focuses on Neeraj Dutt v. State (Govt. of Delhi) 2022. The role of circumstantial evidence in convictions is analyzed. The court's interpretation of evidence standards is highlighted.
Keywords: Corruption, Circumstantial Evidence, Bribery, White Collar Crime, Criminological theories.
