JUDGMENT

N. J. Jamadar, J. - The applicant accused has invoked the inherent jurisdiction of this Court under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ('the Code') being aggrieved by an order dated 15th March 2018 passed by the learned additional Sessions Judge, Kolhapur in Criminal Revision application No.05 of 2015, whereby the learned additional Sessions Judge, Kolhapur dismissed the revision and affrmed the order passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate, F.C., Kolhapur on an application (Exh.17) in Regular Criminal Case No.981 of 2013, whereby the learned Magistrate opined that the prima-facie case to frame charge against the accused for the offences punishable under sections 420, 464, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('the Penal Code') was made out.

** Order is corrected as per order dated 31st May 2022

2. The background facts can be stated as under :-

2.1 The applicant was working as a Government Contractor. The applicant had submitted tenders for allotment of the work contract. as per the prevalent norms to be eligible to submit tenders for work beyond an estimated cost, the contractor was required to be classifed in a particular class. For the said pu