VENUGOPAL V Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are accused 1 to 4 in the case registered as V.C.No.04/2021/TSR by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), Thrissur for the offences punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short 'the Act') and under Sections 465, 471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code.

(2.) The first accused was the Chairman and the second accused was the Vice Chairman of the Guruvayur Urban Co-operative Bank Limited (hereinafter referred to as 'the Bank') during the year 2017. Accused 3 and 4 were members of the Director Board of the Bank during that period.

(3.) The Bank had invited applications from eligible candidates to fill up six posts of appraisers and five posts of peons. The conducting of the written examination for selection was entrusted with an outside agency by name "Global Trust, Kottayam". The written examination was conducted on 12.11.2017. The short listed candidates were called for an interview by the Bank. It is alleged that the answer papers of the written examination, of those candidates who had given bribe and from whom bribe was demanded, were manipulated to ensure that they would secure high marks in the written examination. It is alleged that specific instructions were given to such candidates to fill up only answers fully known to them and the answers to the questions left out by them were later filled up with the help of the accused to ensure that they would get high marks. It is alleged that the final list of selected candidates was published on the same day of the interview and appointment orders were given to them on the same day itself.