ORDER

Dated this the 23^rd day of February, 2026

1^st accused in Crime No.VC 02/2026 of Pathanamthitta Police Station seeks pre-arrest bail in this petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, 'the BNSS ' hereinafter).

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

3. Here, the prosecution alleges commission of offences punishable under Sections 316 (5), 314, 61(2), 3(5) and 344 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘the BNS ’ hereinafter) as well as under Sections 13 (1)(a) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 (for short, ‘the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018’ hereinafter), by the accused.

4. In the present case, the FIR was registered pursuant to the directions issued by the Division Bench of this Court in SSCR No.03/2026, dated 13.01.2026, acting on a report submitted by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, which detected blatant acts of criminal misappropriation of the proceeds of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’. Upon finding merit in the report, the Division Bench issued the following directions as recorded in p