Top court expresses astonishment after bribe money evidence reportedly destroyed by rats
April 25, 2026: The Supreme Court of India on Friday stayed the conviction of a Bihar government officer in a bribery case, expressing surprise over claims that key evidence—seized currency notes—had been destroyed by rats. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan granted bail to Aruna Kumari and said the matter would be examined in detail at a later stage.
Kumari, who served as a child development programme officer, was accused of demanding a bribe of ₹10,000 and was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. While the trial court had acquitted her, the Patna High Court later overturned the verdict and sentenced her. The High Court had noted that the physical currency notes could not be produced as evidence, as they were allegedly eaten by rats, but relied on official records documenting the deposit of the money.
The Supreme Court, however, questioned the credibility of this explanation, observing that such an incident raises serious concerns and reflects a significant loss of state revenue. The case has now sparked wider debate over evidence handling and accountability, as the court prepares to hear the matter further.