The Supreme Court of India has suspended the sentence of Aruna Kumari, a former Child Development Programme Officer from Bihar, convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and granted her bail on April 25, 2025. The apex court simultaneously raised sharp questions over the prosecution's extraordinary claim that currency notes seized as bribe money were destroyed by rodents while in police custody — a revelation the court said did not "inspire any confidence."

Background: From Acquittal to Conviction

The case against Aruna Kumari traces back to charges filed under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The trial court had initially acquitted her of all charges. However, the Patna High Court overturned that acquittal and convicted her, sentencing her to four years of Rigorous Imprisonment under Section 13(2) and three years under Section 7 of the Act.

Challenging this conviction, Kumari filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court. Senior Advocate S. Nagamuthu appeared on her behalf and presented arguments that prompted the apex court to issue notice and intervene.

Supreme Court Suspends Sentence, Orders Bail

A bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan took up the SLP and ordered that "the substantive order of sentence passed by the High Court is suspended." The court directed that Kumari be released on bail subject to conditions imposed by the trial court.

The bench issued a formal notice in the matter, signalling that it will examine the merits of the Patna High Court's reversal of the original acquittal during the final hearing. This is a significant interim relief for Kumari, who was staring at a combined sentence of over four years behind bars.

Court Stunned by 'Rodents Destroyed Bribe Money' Claim

The most striking aspect of the hearing was the Supreme Court's reaction to a specific claim recorded in the Patna High Court judgment — that the currency notes allegedly recovered as bribe money were destroyed by rodents due to poor storage conditions at the police malkhana (evidence storage facility).

"We are taken by surprise that the currency notes got destroyed by rodents," the Justice Pardiwala-led bench observed during the proceedings. The court made clear that the explanation offered for the destruction of seized evidence "does not inspire any confidence."

Going further, the bench raised a broader systemic concern: "We wonder how many such currency notes recovered in this type of offences get destroyed as they are not kept at a safe place. It's a huge revenue loss for the State." This observation points to a pattern of negligence in handling seized assets across police stations in India — a problem that has surfaced in multiple states over the years.

Systemic Failures in Evidence Handling: A Wider Crisis

The Supreme Court's concern is not without precedent. Across India, police malkhanas — storage rooms for seized goods and evidence — have long been flagged for poor infrastructure, inadequate record-keeping, and vulnerability to theft, damage, and tampering. In several past cases, courts have noted that seized drugs, cash, and valuables have gone missing or been damaged while in police custody.

This comes amid growing judicial scrutiny of evidence integrity in corruption cases. Critics argue that the destruction of physical evidence — whether by rodents, fire, or administrative neglect — disproportionately benefits the accused and undermines the prosecution's case, raising uncomfortable questions about intent versus incompetence.

Notably, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was significantly amended in 2018 to strengthen anti-corruption measures, including stricter timelines for trial completion. Yet, procedural lapses in evidence storage continue to erode the effectiveness of these legal frameworks on the ground.

What Happens Next

The Supreme Court has indicated it will examine the destruction of seized currency evidence in detail during the final hearing of the matter. This could potentially lead to broader directions on the maintenance and security of police malkhanas across the country — a systemic reform that law enforcement agencies and anti-corruption watchdogs have long demanded.

Aruna Kumari will remain on bail until the final adjudication of her SLP. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent on how appellate courts handle reversals of acquittals in corruption cases, and how evidentiary lapses by the prosecution are treated when physical evidence is no longer available.