# Supreme Court: no prior approval needed to probe police bribery

> India's Supreme Court rules that investigating bribe demands by police does not require prior approval under anti-corruption law.
- Title: Supreme Court: no prior approval needed to probe police…
- Summary: India's Supreme Court rules that investigating bribe demands by police does not require prior approval under anti-corruption law. The Supreme Court ruled…
- Keywords: supreme court of india, prevention of corruption act, police corruption, tejaram, rajasthan, bribery, section 17a, prior approval, news, politics, Supreme, Court
- Source: The Hindu — https://thehindu.com/news/national/prior-nod-to-probe-bribe-demand-by-police-personnel-not-needed-under-anti-graft-law-supreme-court/article71602574.ece
- Author: PTI
- Published: 2026-10-19T11:11:47+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: supreme court of india, prevention of corruption act, police corruption, tejaram, rajasthan, bribery, section 17a, prior approval, news, politics
## Court rules on corruption investigations
The Supreme Court held that investigating alleged bribe demands by police does not require prior approval under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
## The bench and the judgment
Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and N.V. Anjaria delivered the judgment on October 16, dismissing a Rajasthan police constable's appeal against corruption charges.
## The constable's case
Constable Tejaram was charged under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He argued that prior approval under Section 17A was required before investigating him.
## What Section 17A protects
Section 17A requires prior approval for investigating offences linked to decisions or recommendations made by public servants while discharging official functions or duties.
## The court's key finding
The court said bribe demands fall outside Section 17A because they are unconnected with discharge of official duties, which the provision protects.

> An unequivocal position of law emanates from the decisions about the scope and extent of applicability of Section 17A of the PC Act which contemplates taking a prior approval before investigation or inquiry against a public servant.
## The bribery allegation
Fellow constable Devendra Kumar alleged in an email dated April 22, 2021, that Tejaram demanded one point five lakh rupees on behalf of the superintendent of police.
## The investigation timeline
An FIR was registered on June 4, 2021. Tejaram was arrested on September 1, 2021. Prosecution sanction was granted on December 8, 2023.
## The charge and appeals
A charge sheet was filed on January 19, 2024.A special court in Pali framed a charge under Section 7 on September 12, 2024.The Rajasthan High Court dismissed Tejaram's revision petition on March 26, 2025.
## Supreme Court upholds the conviction
The Supreme Court upheld the Rajasthan High Court's decision and rejected Tejaram's defence that prior approval was required, allowing the trial to proceed.
## Key takeaway

The Supreme Court ruled that investigating bribe demands by police officers does not require prior approval under the Prevention of Corruption Act, rejecting a constable's appeal.