VISHNU PRASAD Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is the first accused in the case registered as Crime No.83/2020 of the Thrikkakkara Police Station under Section 13(1)(a) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and also under Sections 406, 408, 409, 465, 468, 471, 477A, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and also for offences under the Information Technology Act, 2000.

(2.) The prosecution case, in short, is as follows: The petitioner was the section clerk in the Disaster Management Cell of the Ernakulam District Collectorate, which was constituted for the release of money from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). As per the system prevalent in the cell, amount due to the victims of the flood that occurred in Kerala was being distributed from the CMDRF through Bill Information Management System. The petitioner, pursuant to the conspiracy hatched with the other accused, misappropriated Rs.27,73,500/- by committing digital fraud during the period from 14.01.2019 to 24.01.2020.

(3.) During the investigation of the case, the Toyota Innova car bearing registration number KL-07-CB/1110 and the Royal Enfield motorcycle bearing registration number KL-07-CS/7000 owned by the petitioner, were seized by the investigating officer and produced before the Court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Muvattupuzha.