V. RAMANATHAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Based on the report submitted by the 2nd respondent, the 1st respondent has registered a case in Crime No.19/AC/2019 on 11.10.2019 for the offences under Section 7(O) and 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 against 5 named accused, including the petitioner herein, for quashing which, this petition has been filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C.

(2.) Heard Mr.M.Palanivel, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mrs.P.Kritika Kamal, learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondents.

(3.) Before adverting to the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, it may be relevant to give a brief sketch of the allegations in the F.I.R. against the petitioner. The petitioner was working as Block Development Officer in Kolathur Panchayat Union, Salem District, during the relevant period. The Vigilance Department received information that on 11.10.2019, the Kolathur Panchayat Union is floating tenders for 48 civil works, for which, bribe amounts are being paid by the contractors to the Panchayat Engineers. Therefore, a team of vigilance officials headed by one Mr.Pandarinathan/2 nd respondent, made a surprise inspection of the Panchayat Union Office around 12 noon on 11.10.2019 and totally recovered Rs.5,06,000/- from the staff there, which they were not able to properly account for.