SUGATHAN K.V. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These are applications for regular bail.

(2.) Petitioners in these cases are accused Nos. 11 and 15 respectively in Crime No. 650/CB/TSR/D/21 of Crime Branch Thrissur registered under Ss. 406, 420, 409, 465, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. The allegations against the petitioners in these cases is that they were Board members of the Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank at different points of time and that they had conspired with officials of the Bank to sanction loans to fictitious persons or ineligible borrowers using security documents produced by other genuine customers of the Bank.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioners in these cases would submit that the petitioners in these cases were all board members of the aforesaid Bank and they have no direct role in the sanctioning of loans. It is also submitted that this Court has already granted bail to similarly placed persons, through orders in Bail Application Nos. 9703 of 2021, 9889 of 2021, 9877 of 2021, 10012 of 2021, 10017 of 2021, 10004 of 2021 and 10020 of 2021. It is the submission of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners that the petitioners in these cases are not differently placed from the petitioners, who have been granted bail by this Court earlier. The learned counsel for the petitioners would also submit that the petitioner in Bail Application No. 150 of 2022 was arrested on 5/11/2021 and the petitioner in Bail Application No. 167 of 2022 was arrested on 5/11/2021 respectively.