------------- The application is filed under Sec.438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 , for an order of pre-arrest bail.

2. The petitioners are the accused 1 and 2 in Crime No.503/2024 of the Pathanamthitta Police Station, Pathanamthitta registered against the accused, for allegedly committing the offences punishable under Sections 409 and 420 r/w Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (in short, ' IPC ').

3. The gist of the prosecution case is that: on 7th and 8th of September 2023 the defacto complainant and his wife deposited an amount of Rs.1,50,000/- Nedumparambil Credit Syndicate at Kumbazha branch, on the assurance made by the accused that they would offer 8% interest on the deposit. However, the accused did not pay any interest or return the capital. Thus, the accused have committed the above offences.

4. Heard; Sri.Jai George, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Smt. Neema T.V., the learned Public Prosecutor.

5. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are totally innocent of the accusations leveled against them. The petitioners are only the paid employees of the above concern. The petitioners have not received any mo