The Madras High Court on Wednesday ruled that in bribery cases, the person who gives the money should be treated as an offender as well, reported PTI. Justice S Vaidyanathan ruled that the income tax department should look into “the assets and liabilities of such offenders and ascertain their source of income through which they paid the bribe.” He passed the order while hearing an anticipatory bail petition of a person who allegedly duped a medical course aspirant.

Justice Vaidyanathan said, “The one who receives bribe alone cannot be punished, even the person who gives bribe, under any circumstance, is also to be blamed.” The high court registry will now send a copy of the order to the income tax commissioner. Henceforth, police will furnish details of the person who gives the bribe to the income tax department so that action can be taken against the offender, reported Deccan Chronicle.

The court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of SK Durai who had approached the high court after a medical course aspirant complained that Durai had taken Rs 20 lakh from him for a medical seat. Justice Vaidyanathan said, “If doctors are going to be qualified only on the basis of money and not on merit, the safety of the patients, who undergo treatment under them, is a million dollar question.”