INDER DEV Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition under Sec. 438 Crimial P.C. has been preferred by Inder Dev, Technical Assistant in Gram Panchayat, Dhoun Kothi for grant of pre-arrest bail in case FIR No. 18 of 2013 dated 2.2.2013 registered under Sec. 420 read with Sec. 34 Penal Code at Police Station, Barmana, Tehsil Sadar, District Bilaspur, H.P.

(2.) It appears that a written complaint was sent by the Block Development Officer, Bilaspur to the Incharge, Police Station, Barmana regarding certain irregularities in the utilisation of funds of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (for short MNREGA). According to this report, there were some awards passed by the Ombudsman in which complicity of the accused had been established regarding the mis-utilisation and misuse of the funds of the MNREGA.

(3.) It is the case set out in the complaint that against a total sanctioned amount of Rs. 7,16,100.00, a sum of Rs. 1,75,000.00 was found to have not been utilised at all and had thus been appropriated by the petitioner along with Shyam Lal, the then Pradhan and Sada Ram, the then Secretary of the Gram Panchayat.