After 39 years of legal struggle, Jageshwar Prasad Awardhiya, a former billing assistant with Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, has been acquitted in a Rs 100 bribery case. The Chhattisgarh High Court overturned his 2004 conviction, citing insufficient evidence and procedural lapses.
Awardhiya had been caught in a Lokayukta trap after a colleague alleged he demanded Rs 100 to settle arrears. Notes marked with phenolphthalein were recovered from his possession, but Awardhiya maintained they were forcibly planted. The lower court conviction led to suspension, halved salary, and decades-long litigation.
While the acquittal clears his name, the personal cost has been immense. His children’s education suffered, and his youngest son Neeraj remains unmarried due to financial struggles. Awardhiya now hopes the state acknowledges the injustice and offers support.
His case underscores the devastating impact of delayed justice in India, where even eventual verdicts cannot restore lost time, career, or stability.
