ORDER

Dated this the 13^th day of January, 2026.

This is an application for anticipatory bail filed by accused No.3 in Crime No.4/2024 of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), Thiruvananthapuram.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner/accused No.3 as well as the learned Senior Public Prosecutor. Perused the records including Annexure II bail order.

3. This crime was registered alleging commission of offences punishable under Sections 7 and 13(1)(a) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment Act 2018) [‘PC (Amendment) Act’ for short hereafter] as well as under Sections 409 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (` IPC ’ for short) by accused Nos. 1 to 3 after getting prior approval under Section 17A of the PC (Amendment) Act. The prosecution case is that High Range Rural Development Society (`HRDS India’ for short) is a charitable society registered under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act District Registrar, Idukki, and the project implementing agency of DDU-GKY and Yuvakerala projects which are the Central-State Governments sponsored schemes intended to provide skill development training courses for poor youth and works for the