PRAYAGRAJ, April 8 -- While taking exception to the growing perception among the common man that anything can be purchased with bribes, including academic degrees and university jobs, the Allahabad high court refused to quash an FIR against a woman accused of defrauding an aspirant of over Rs.22 lakh under the pretext of securing a PhD degree and an assistant professor job.

The HC also noted that the allegations in the FIR disclose a very chilling trend in society, where the common man has developed a perception that anything can be done by paying a bribe.

The bench, comprising justice JJ Munir and justice Tarun Saxena, dismissed a writ petition filed by the accused, Priyanka Senger. The court further said that even an educated woman wa...