JASWINDER KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order shall dispose off the aforesaid four petitions filed on behalf of Jaswinder Kumar, Sawinder Singh, Jaspal Singh and Parmod Kumar Garg respectively, seeking grant of anticipatory bail in respect of a case registered vide FIR No.20 dtd. 22/8/2022 at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Patiala, under Ss. 409, 420, 120-B IPC and Ss. 13(1)(a) read with Sec. 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

(2.) The facts leading to lodging of FIR are that initially a complaint i.e Complaint No.149/2015 was submitted by one Ram Sarup to Vigilance Bureau against Inspectors, Food and Supplies Department, Punjab working in Rajpura, Nabha, Samana and Patran, pertaining to less distribution of wheat meant for distribution amongst persons below poverty line. The matter was investigated by Vigilance Bureau and on the basis of inquiry report, the instant FIR was lodged.

(3.) As per said report, Jaspreet Singh, Avishek Bansal, Jaspal Singh, Miss Namrata, Harvinder Singh, Preet Kamal Singh Cheema, Pramod Garg, Rajwinder Singh, Jaswinder Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Savinder Singh, Gurpreet Kaur and Jaspreet Dhiman were all posted as Inspectors at Samana and had charge of various zones from December, 2013 to March, 2016. It is alleged that during inquiry, entire record pertaining to distribution of wheat was not produced by Inspectors and the record which was produced had been partly maintained or was found erased. It is thus alleged that during December, 2013 to March, 2016, the Inspectors embezzled about 26,868.75 quintals of wheat worth Rs.3,85,49,552.00, which was actually meant to be distributed amongst the people falling within the domain of'Below Poverty Line'.