The investigating agency is not legally bound to seek permission of the court for further investigation.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, V.A.C.B Palakkad is the revision petitioner in all these matters. The Revision Petitioner challenges various orders passed by the Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Thrissur.

2. In Crl.Rev.Pet.No.688 of 2023, the petitioner challenges the Order dated 23.11.2022 in Crl.M.P.No.131/2021 in C.C No.2/2011. In Crl.Rev.Pet.No.741 of 2023 the challenge is to the order dated 23.11.2022 in Crl.M.P.No.132/2021 in C.C No.32/2010. The petitioner challenges the order dated 23.11.2022 in Crl.M.P.No.130/2021 in C.C No.22/2011. 3. In the above referred Calendar cases, the V.A.C.B submitted Final Reports before the Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, alleging offences under Section 13 (2) r/w 13(1) (d) of the P. C. Act and Sections 120 (B) and 420 of the IPC . The V.A.C.B, thereafter, submitted an application seeking further investigation before the Special Court. The Special Court held that the permission of the Court is not required for further investigation and that the Investigating agency is at liberty to proceed with further investigation. The Special Court also held that there was no bonafides in these petitions. Though the Special Court rejected the applications on the ground that there was no bonafides in the applications, the Court directed the Investigating agency to complete further investigation within a period not more than two months.

4. Heard the learned Special GP and the learned counsel for the respondents.

5. In challenge to the impugned orders, the petitioner pleaded the ground that the V.A.C.B was not legally bound to seek permission of the court and therefore, the court below committed a serious jurisdictional error in dismissing the application. The learned Special GP placed a Government Order dated 04.05.2024, seeking withdrawal of the Criminal Revision Petitions following the principle declared in Peethambaran Vs.

State of Kerala (2023 SCC OnLine SC 553).

The permission sought for is granted. The Criminal Revision Petitions are dismissed as withdrawn.