ORDER :

This petition is filed by the petitioners/accused Nos.4 and 2 under Section 438 of Cr.P.C. for granting anticipatory bail in Crime No.131/2020 registered by Kuduthini Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 3, 6(A) and 7 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and under Sections 3, 4, 12, 18 and 19 of Karnataka Essential Commodities (Public Distribution System) Public Control Order 2016 and under Sections 3(2)(i), 4, 6 and 8 of Karnataka Essential Commodities (Storage Accounts Maintaining Value Notification) Order 1981 and Section 420 of IPC.

2. It is the case of prosecution that on the credible information complainant-Sri Ravikumar Rathod who is the Food Sheristedar along with panchas by obtaining the permission of Deputy Commissioner and Tahasildar went to a suspected area along with PSI Kuduthini Police Station and his staff and in one open place near the Sultanpur Road, where they found that one lorry was standing, after searching the lorry, it revealed it was loaded by PDS rice and they conducted the raid and seized nearly 340 plastic bags more than 153 quintals worth Rs.3,97,800/-from the spot. On verification of the said rice bags, they found they were the