ORDER

This application is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita , 2023 (for short, BNSS ), seeking pre-arrest bail.

2. The applicant is the accused No.8 in Crime No.474/2024 of Valapattanam Police Station, Kannur District. The offence alleged is punishable under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code .

3. The prosecution case, in short, is that accused Nos.1 to 11, the officials and accused Nos.12 and 3, the collection agents of Athazhakunnu Merchant Welfare Society situated at Athazhakunnu, conducted a chitty by name Sahayanidhi Scheme. They approached the defacto complainant and offered Rs.47,500/- on deposit of Rs.1250/- per month for forty months. Accordingly, from 04.11.2019 onwards, the defacto complainant made deposit in her name and children and made a total deposit of Rs.3,41,500/-. But, the accused have not paid the amount offered and thereby committed the above offence.

4. I have heard Sri.Sreejith C.K, the learned counsel for the applicant and Sri.M.C.Ashi, the learned Senior Public Prosecutor. Perused the case diary.

5. The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the above