ORDER :

1. This is an application for anticipatory bail filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short ‘the Code’).

2. The petitioner is the first accused in the case registered as Crime No. 240/2021 of the Museum Police Station.

3. The case was registered against the accused initially under Sections 408, 417 and 420 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Subsequently, the investigating officer filed report in the court concerned for continuing the investigation into the offences punishable under Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended by Act 16 of 2018) and also under Sections 465, 468, 471 and 120B of the IPC.

4. The prosecution case is as follows:

The petitioner, who is the first accused, was the Senior Clerk in the Office of the Scheduled Caste Development (SCD), Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. There are various schemes formulated by the Government for improving the social conditions of persons who belong to scheduled castes. The applications received for monetary relief would be processed in the SCD office and recommendation for sanctioning money would be made to the Scheduled Caste Development Officer in eligible cases. Th