P.T. Raman Nayar, J.

1. This is a report under section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code made by the District Magistrate, Quilon, in the following circumstances:

In Crime No. 39 of 1957 of the Sadar Ambala Police Station, Punjab, a case under section 5 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Central Act II of 1947) was registered against one J. R. Woodwall, a Sub-Divisional Officer of the Punjab P.W.D. and this case is being investigated by Randhir Sain, a Sub-Inspector of Police of the Special Enquiry Agency, Anti-Corruption Department of the Punjab Government, under authority from a magistrate as required by section 3 of the Act. The corruption alleged is in respect of the supply of about Rs. 40 lakhs worth of aluminium conductors by the Aluminium Industries, Ltd., Kundara, in this State (hereinafter referred to as the company), and Woodwall was the Passing Officer who came to the factory and after inspecting the conductors, accepted them on behalf of the Punjab Government. Randhir Sain went to the office of the company on 18th June 1957 for purposes of the investigation, and it is not disputed that he was afforded full facilities for the inspection of such of the books and othe