PREMA Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 18/11/2025 for the alleged offence punishable under Ss. 109, 201, 420, 468, 477(A) of IPC r/w 34 of IPC read with Ss. 13(2), 13(1)(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act in Crime No.08 of 2025, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that during the tenure of the petitioner as Block Development Officer at Karaikal, the scheme named Swatch Bharat Mission was launched in her jurisdictional areas for the IHHLS Work, for which, the Central Government and the State Government had contributed Rs.12,000.00 and Rs.8,000.00 respectively for a total of Rs.20,000.00. The total number of IHHLS allotted to Karaikal Block is 10,592 out of that, 7,351 latrines were completed and the amount was distributed to the beneficiaries. The total amount paid to the beneficiaries after completion of work is Rs.3,04,95,000.00 but Rs,38,375,500/- was disbursed and consequently, there was an misappropriation of funds to the extent of Rs.78,80,500.00. It is also further alleged that the petitioner separately collected a sum of Rs.13.00 lakhs from the contractor, apart from the total excess payment made to the tune of Rs.27.26 lakhs. Hence, a complaint was lodged and the petitioner was arrested.

(3.) Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is in judicial custody from 18/11/2025 and that she is a lady. Though it is alleged that the cheques were handed over to the petitioner, she had only verified the same and made payments in accordance with the instructions of her superior officers. He further submitted that the petitioner has not benefitted from any of the transaction. He further submitted that the petitioner is willing to deposit one-third of the amount alleged to have been misappropriated by her. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner.