Allahabad HC: Cooperative Bank Officers Are Classified As Public Servants Under Prevention of Corruption Act

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that officers of cooperative banks controlled or aided by the government qualify as public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, making them liable for prosecution in corruption cases.

The court dismissed petitions seeking to quash FIRs against bank officials, emphasizing that handling public funds in cooperative institutions falls within the Act’s scope.

It further clarified that a 'technical' exoneration in a departmental inquiry, where the Inquiry Officer merely states a lack of competence to investigate the charges, does not bar filing an FIR over allegations of disproportionate assets.

[Subhash Chandra v. State Of U.P. Thru. Addl. Chief Secy. Deptt. Of Vigilance]