ORDER :

The sting operation conducted by the reporter of a television channel forms the basis for the registration of the case against the petitioners as Crime No.V.C.1/2019 of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), Kasaragod Unit.

2. The petitioners are the third and the fourth accused in the case. At the time of the alleged incident, they were working as the Assistant Motor Vehicles Inspector and the Office Attendant respectively at the R.T.O check post at Cheruvathoor.

3. The sting operation was conducted on 10.06.2018 and 11.06.2018. It is stated that such an operation was conducted with a view to expose the corruption among government officials in taking bribe for permitting vehicles to transport sand without actually verifying whether the vehicles have valid permit and other documents to transport sand.

4. The reporter of the television channel, disguised as the cleaner, travelled in a lorry. It is alleged that he gave money to various officials of the Motor Vehicles Department, Police Department and the Excise Department on the way from Manjeswaram to Cheruvathoor. The scenes of paying the money were recorded by a hidden camera held by the cameraman who was travelling