M.N. HARISH Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by Accused No.1 under Sec. 438 of Cr.P.C. for releasing him on anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.79/2022 of Ramanagara Town Police Station, Ramanagara District, registered for the offences punishable under Ss. 409 , 420 , 465 , 468 read with 34 of IPC .

(2.) The brief factual matrix of the prosecution case are that, the petitioner was working as Assistant Director in Tourism Department from 4/8/2021 to 25/5/2022 and he handed over the charge on 25/5/2022 and retired from his post on 31/5/2022. It is also asserted that on 28/5/2022, the Amruth Mahostav was celebrated and during the said period though he was not holding charge, he issued cheques in favour of unrelated persons regarding expenses pertaining to Amruth Mahotsav, even after he handing over charge and thereby it is alleged that, he along with other accused, has misappropriated a sum of Rs.17,60,000.00 from the Accounts pertaining to the Department. In this context, a complaint came to be lodged by the Assistant Director, Additional In-charge Officer of Kannada and Cultural Department, Ramanagara and on the basis of the said complaint, the said crime came to be registered.

(3.) The petitioner apprehending his arrest, has approached the jurisdictional Judge with a petition seeking anticipatory bail and that petition came to be rejected. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.