INDERJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner seeks grant of regular bail in respect of a case registered vide FIR No.09, dtd. 28/7/2022 at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Economic Offences Wing, Ludhiana, Punjab under Ss. 7, 7A, 8, 12, 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended by the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Act, 2018, Ss. 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of Indian Penal Code and Ss. 65, 66, 66C, 66D of Information and Technology Act, 2000.

(2.) The allegations, in nutshell, are to the effect that several irregularities had been committed in the matter of allotment of plots by Improvement Trust, Ludhiana and also in the matter of waiving the Non Construction Fee (NCF), which is to be imposed upon the allottees in case requisite construction is not made during the stipulated period. It is the case of the prosecution that during the course of investigation, it was found that the petitioner, who was working as a Junior Engineer with Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, had furnished incorrect reports regarding the basic amenities i.e. sewerage and water-supply etc. not having been extended to the allottees in question and on the basis of which the NFC was waived off, whereas as a matter of fact the said amenities already stood extended in the neighbouring plots.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that he has falsely been implicated in the present case. It has further been submitted that since identically situated co-accused, namely, Sandeep Sharma, Parveen Kumar and Kamaldeep Singh have already been granted bail vide common order dtd. 4/1/2023 (Annexure P-4) passed in CRM-M-44207-2022 the petitioner also deserves the same concession on grounds of parity particularly when challan already stands presented.