ORDER :

These petitions, arising out of one and same FIR, to be decided on the basis of common facts and circumstances, and material on record, are being disposed of by this common order.

2. Petitioners, invoking Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, have approached this Court for grant of bail in case FIR No.28 of 2022, dated 21.4.2022, registered under Sections 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (for short ‘IPC’), in Police Station Theog, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

3. Status Report stands filed. Record has also been made available. Earlier petitioners had approached the Special Judge (CBI), Shimla by filing Bail Application No. 22-S/22 of 2022 titled Mool Raj Chauhan vs. State of HP and Bail Application No. 24-S/22 of 2022 titled Sunil Dutt vs. State of HP

4. Prosecution case is that on finding shortage of stock and discrepancies with respect to receipt and sale of stock at Petrol Pump Deorighat, being run by HIMFED, four members Departmental Committee, under the General Manager, HIMFED, was constituted on 11.4.2022 to look into the issue. The Committee in its Report dated 18.4.2022 pointed out serious financial irregularities and embezzlement of Government funds