ORDER :

A. Badharudeen, J.

Accused Nos. 1 and 2 in Crime No. 4 of 2024 of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) Thiruvananthapuram have filed this anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners/accused Nos.1 & 2 as well as the learned Special Public Prosecutor in detail.Perused the relevant documents and the report filed by the Investigating Officer.

3. This crime was registered alleging commission of offences punishable under Sections 7 and 13(1)(a) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment Act 2018) ['PC (Amendment) Act’ for short hereafter] as well as under Sections 409 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code ('IPC’ for short) by accused Nos. 1 to 3 after getting prior approval under Section 17A of the PC (Amendment) Act. The prosecution case is that High Range Rural Development Society ('HRDS India’ for short) is a charitable society registered under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act District Registrar, Idukki, and the project implementing agency of DDU-GKY and Yuvakerala projects which are the Central-State Governments sponsored schemes