The petitioners in the above petitions are A1, A3, A5, A7, A8, A10 and A12 in C.C. No. 1 of 1991 on the file of the Special Judge for Edamalayar Investigations, Ernakulam.

2. The proceedings were instituted before the trial Court against petitioners for various offences punishable under various provisions of the Penal Code and the provision of Prevention of Corruption Act. It is the case of the prosecution that these petitioners along with other accused entered into a criminal conspiracy during the period 1980 to 1987 and conceived a plan to make illegal profits for themselves in executing the construction of Idamalayar dam as a part of the Idamalayar project.

3. Idamalayar dam as a part of the Idamalayar project was sanctioned by the Planning Commission and huge expenditure in its construction was incurred. Later number of leaks were discovered in the tunnel, which showed the inferior quality of construction of the dam which became a matter of public concern. The State Government appointed the then sitting Judge of the Kerala High Court as the Commission of Inquiry to conduct the probe. The Commission of Inquiry found the former Secretary. Irrigation and Power and cert