DAYANAND Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is the first bail application filed by the applicant under Sec. 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking grant of anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.242/2025 registered at Police Station Kotwali, District Shivpuri (M.P.) for the commission of offence under Sec. 318(4), 316(5), 61(2) of BNS and Sec. 13(1)A of Prevention of Corruption Act.

(2.) The case of the prosecution, in short, is that the Senior Treasury Officer submitted a written complaint on 26/3/2025, to the SHO, Police Station Shivpuri. It was mentioned in the complaint that, during the period from the financial year 2018-19 to 2022-23, the present applicants, who were posted as Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), negligently provided their login ID and password to one Gaurav Shrivastava (Outsourced Computer Operator). Subsequently, Gaurav Shrivastava transferred a certain amount to four other individuals, namely Saurabh Shrivastava, Shahrukh Khan, Nasim Khan, and Dhulaji. On the basis of this complaint, the aforesaid FIR was lodged.

(3.) It is submitted by counsel for the applicants that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the matter. As per the prosecution story, the allegation against the present applicant is that had provided their login ID and password to Gaurav Shrivastava (Outsourced Computer Operator). Except for this, there is no allegation against the present applicant regarding the misappropriation or embezzlement of funds. Therefore, prima facie, the offence of cheating and forgery is not made out against the applicant. It is further submitted that the aforesaid IDs and passwords are, in general, used by the subordinates of the Officers/present applicants like computer operator for making the transactions of any kind of work and releasing of salary. Only allegation is that during the aforesaid defalcation of money, the present applicant was holding that post, under capacity of which, the alleged transaction have been made. It is further submitted that the main accused is the Computer operator, and even the memorandum of the main accused-Gaurav Shrivastava/computer operator has not stated anything against the present applicant. It is also submitted that, during the investigation, it was found that co-accused Gaurav Shrivastava transferred the funds to his associate's accounts by using the login ID and password. It is further submitted that there is no allegation in the case diary that any amount was transferred to the accounts of the present applicant. It is also contended that the inquiry conducted by the authorities is also faulty because prior approval is also not sought from the State Govt. Under these circumstances, entire prosecution story in respect to present applicant becomes doubtful. It is further submitted that other co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court vide order dtd. 17/10/2025 passed in M.Cr.C. No. 47964 of 2025, therefore, he seek complete parity with that of co-accused persons. Further argument is that applicant is the permanent residents of District - Shivpuri and are the reputed citizens of the society. In case he is sent to jail, their social reputation would get diminished. There is no possibility of his absconsion or tampering with the prosecution evidence. Hence, prayed for grant of anticipatory bail to the applicant.