JUDGMENT

S. K. Panigrahi, J. - These petitions under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C.) have been filed with a prayer to quash the proceedings emanating from V.G.R. Case No. 5(c) of 2013 arising out of Balasore Vigilance P.S. Case No. 30 of 2013, for alleged commission of offences u/s 13(2), r/w Section 13(1)(c)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as PCA) and u/s 420, 468, 409, 379, 411 and 120-B of Indian Penal Code 1860 (hereinafter referred to as IPC) which is pending in the Court of learned Special Judge Vigilance, Keonjhar. As the petition involves the same facts, they are being decided by this common judgment and order.

2. Shorn of unnecessary details, the facts of the present matter are as follows:

i. Upon receiving a reference from the Department of Steel and Mines, Govt. of Odisha, State Vigilance officials conducted an enquiry and joint physical verification of the Uliburu Mines area from 01.07.2013 to 04.07.2013, subsequently a First Information Report (hereinafter referred to as FIR) was lodged on 27.07.2013 against the present petitioners and a host of officials of the Mining, Forest and Revenue Departments of