ORDER :

The petitioner herein, who is an accused in ACB Ballari Crime No.10/2018, is seeking quashing of the registration of FIR by the said establishment for offences punishable under section 7(a) and 7A of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (“the Act” for short) by filing this petition under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C.

2. The brief facts are that one K. Pampapathi lodged a complaint before the ACB, Ballari on 15.11.2018 alleging that the petitioner, who is the Sub-Registrar of Hospet was indulging in corrupt activities and he was obtaining illegal gratification directly and through various middlemen including the staff working in his office and deed writers, for registering documents, issuing encumbrance certificates and for performing other official duties. After registering the said case and obtaining search warrant from the jurisdictional Special Judge, a unit of the ACB Ballari conducted search operation in the office of the petitioner and during the same, it is stated that a sum of Rs.2,95,048/-was recovered from various persons including the staff and deed writers etc., who were present in the premises of the office of the Sub-Registrar at Hospet.

3. Learned counsel for the pet