M. PANNIRSELVAM Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Seeking pre-arrest bail under Section 438 of Cr.P.C. in respect of the offence under Section 7 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 registered against him in Crime No.7 of 2020 by the respondent police, the petitioner is before this court with this original petition.

(2.) The case of the prosecution in brief is that, the petitioner is working as Joint Chief Environmental Engineer in Tamil Nadu pollution Control Board, Vellore Zone at Katpadi. On an information received by the District Inspection Cell Officials that the petitioner receiving huge money as bribe from various industries situated in and around Vellore, Vaniyambadi, Hosur, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram Districts for giving pollution control board's clearance and consent orders, especially, in the zonal level review meeting held on 13.10.2020. Therefore, a surprise check was organized by the District Deputy Inspector Cell Officer and the officials of the Directorate of Vigilance and AntiCorruption. During such surprise check, a sum of Rs.2,50,000/- was seized after being intercepted the car belonging to the petitioner, for which the petitioner was not able to give any explanation or account. Thereafter, another search was conducted in his private office situated at Auxilium College Road, Gandhi Nagar, Katpati, Vellore where another sum of Rs.31,23,000/- was seized.

(3.) Therefore, based on a complaint filed by the District Deputy Inspector Cell Officer, District Inspection Cell, Vellore, a FIR has been registered against the petitioner in Crime No.7 of 2020 for the alleged offence under Section 7 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Thereafter, during the further search conducted at the house of the petitioner on 14.10.2020, an explained and unaccounted money of Rs.3,25,20,000/- , gold ornaments, silver articles, bank pass books and property documents were seized. That apart, during investigation 61 gold coins were seized when the locker of the petitioner maintained at State Bank of India, Ranipet Branch was opened on 21.10.2020. Now, the investigation is pending. In these circumstances, apprehending arrest at the hands of the respondent police, the petitioner has come forward with the instant anticipatory bail petition.