ORDER

Both these petitions call in question registration of crime in Crime No.15 of 2023 for offences punishable under Sections 7(b), 7A, 8, 9 & 10 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’ for short) and pending before the XXIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Court under Prevention of Corruption Act, Bengaluru. Criminal Petition No.3314 of 2023 is preferred by accused Nos. 2 and 3 – one Albert Nicolas and Gangadhar. Criminal Petition No.3371 of 2023 is preferred by one Kailash S.Raj, Vinay S.Raj and Chetan Marlecha who are depicted to be owners of M/s Karnataka Aromas Company and are arrayed as accused No.5 in the aforesaid crime.

2. Shorn of unnecessary details, the facts in brief as borne out from the pleadings are as follows:

Before embarking upon consideration of the case of the petitioners, a little walk through the facts of the case is necessary. One Maadal Virupaksha, at the relevant point in time, was the Chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited, a Government owned Company. One Prashanth Kumar M.V. is the son of Maadal Virupaksha who is arrayed as accused No.1. The petitioners in these petitions are the