CAV ORDER

The petitioners are before this Court calling in question the proceedings in Special Case No.174 of 2022 registered by the 1^st respondent-Lokayuktha for offences punishable under Sections 465, 468, 466, 409, 417, 34, 471, 474, 420, 201 of the IPC and Section13(1)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(iii) of P.C.Act, 1988.

2. Facts in brief germane are as follows:

2.1. Petitioners, at the relevant point in time, were working as Secretary Grade-I Grade-II and Panchayath Development Officers in different Gram Panchayaths. Based on certain allegations, the Government, in terms of its order dated 09-09-2014, directed the Karnatka Lokayuktha to conduct investigation and submit report regarding misappropriation and certain irregularities in relation to implementation of kits and boards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (hereinafter referred to as ‘the scheme’ for short). Based upon the said Government Order, a crime comes to be registered in Crime No.9 of 2014 by the Lokayukta Police against several unknown persons. The police conduct investigation and file a charge sheet in Special Case 174 of 2022 against 72 persons who were working in different capacities in different