ORDER

This appeal arises out of the following facts: On 8th July, 1983 an agreement was executed by the Deputy Commissioner, Palamu with M/s. Bharat Drilling for doing some drilling work in the District. The appellant was then employed as the Managing Director of the District Rural Development Agency, Palamu, and as per his statement had absolutely no role to play in the award of the contract to M/s. Bharat Drilling. By order dated 16th July, 1983 the appellant was transferred from his post as Managing Director and he handed over the charge from that very date to some other officer. A first Information Report was registered on 14th April, 1984 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code against the Deputy Commissioner who had signed the contract with M/s. Bharat Drilling on 8th July 1983 and against the District Rural Development Agency alleging that the Deputy Commissioner and the appellant had entered into a conspiracy in awarding the contract to M/s. Bharat Drilling for consideration. The Investigating Agencies moved the State of Bihar for sanction to prosecute the appellant but the same was declined by the Governor on 2nd February, 1990 on the premise that n