JUDGMENT :

Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. These appeals arise out of a judgment and order of a learned Single Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Madras dated 24 June 2019.

3. The appellant is the State represented by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Chennai City–IV. On 13 July 2010, FIR No 14 of 2010 was registered against the respondent (Accused No 1) and another accused (who has since passed away) under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988¹[“PC Act”]. The respondent was a Chief Engineer in the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company Limited²[“TANGEDCO”]. It is alleged that he demanded a bribe for revoking the suspension of an employee. On 28 June 2011, the Chairman -cum -Managing Director of TANGEDCO accorded sanction to prosecute the respondent and the co-accused under the PC Act. On behalf of the appellant, it has been urged that this sanction was accorded by the Chairman on behalf of the Board of TANGEDCO.

4. On the completion of the investigation, the investigating officer filed a final report under Section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 ³ [“CrPC”] on 27 July 2011 against the respondent and the co-