New Delhi, April 5 -- In a significant and emotionally resonant judgment, the Delhi High Court has acquitted two engineers accused of demanding a Rs 1,800 bribe, bringing an end to a 34-year-long legal battle that lingered under the shadow of corruption allegations.

The Court held that the prosecution failed to establish the essential element of demand for illegal gratification and extended the benefit of doubt to the accused.

The case dates back to September 20, 1991, when Assistant Engineer VK Datta and Junior Engineer Dinesh Garg were accused of demanding Rs 1,800 and Rs 900 each as a bribe for facilitating the release of alleged pending bills. Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and arrested both officials, who were later c...