Gujarat HC grants bail to Aadhaar computer operator who spent 50 days in jail for ₹50 bribe

Gujarat High Court has granted bail to Naimish Mehta, a computer operator working on contractual basis at the UIDAI CSE centre in Veraval. Mehta was arrested on September 19 for allegedly demanding and accepting an illegal gratification of ₹50 over the official Aadhaar updation fee.

The accused was caught red-handed during a trap. An FIR was registered against him at Gir-Somnath District ACB Police Station under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The Veraval sessions court had rejected his bail plea on October 13, following which the accused approached the high court. On November 7, Gujarat High Court granted him bail, noting that the investigation was practically over as the accused was apprehended on the spot and had no prior criminal record. The court directed the accused to furnish a surety bond of ₹10,000 before the trial court.

During the hearing, the applicant's advocate argued that the operator had charged an extra ₹50 on the instructions of his superiors and had already spent nearly 50 days in custody. The defence stressed that further detention was unnecessary since the probe was complete. 

The public prosecutor opposed the bail, pointing out that the accused had demanded a total 100 rupees and was caught accepting the illegal amount. The official Aadhar updation fee is ₹50. The prosecution also highlighted that the superior officers blamed by the accused had denied any involvement.