RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD, J.:–The short question which has arisen in the present writ application is whether the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, Department of Vigilance, Government of Bihar, Patna (respondent no. 1) is justified in pursuing the investigation of Special Case No. 16/2017 arising out of Special Vigilance Unit (SUV) P.S. Case No. 01 of 2017 for the offence alleged under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 dated 23rd March, 2017 even after expiry of more than five years notwithstanding the fact that on identical allegations/ charges the petitioner has been exonerated in the departmental proceeding in the light of the inquiry reports submitted one after another by the Principal Secretary, Department of Labour, Govt. of Bihar and the Chief Commissioner of Inquiry, Government of Bihar.

Facts in brief

2. The petitioner at the relevant time was posted as Divisional Forest Officer, Research, Training and Public Relation, Patna in the Department of Forest, Govt. of Bihar, Patna. His case is that he was at serial no. 1 in the list of candidates wh