JUDGMENT :

(Prayer: Criminal Appeals filed under Section 14-A(2) of the SC/ST (POA) Act, to call for the records and set aside the order passed in Crl.M.P.Nos.430 & 431 of 2024 on the file of the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST (POA) Act, 1973, Sivagangai dated 21.02.2024.)

1. These Criminal Appeals arise out of the order passed in Crl.M.P.Nos.430 & 431 of 2024 on the file of the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989, Sivagangai dated 21.02.2024.

2. With the consent of both the learned counsels, these Criminal Appeals have been taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

3. The brief facts of the case are as follows:

a) A complaint was raised by an Adi Dravidar Welfare Committee member in regard to misappropriation of funds allotted to the Adi-Dravidar Welfare Hostels and on the strength of the said complaint, the District Collector, Sivagangai formed a committee for inspection and on initial inspection, it was held that the appellants herein along with other accused had misappropriated a sum of Rs.9 lakhs in which, Rs.5 lakhs has been repaid by the first appellant and therefore, a case has been registered against t