The court grants anticipatory bail under specified conditions, citing lack of opposition from prosecution and need for cooperation in ongoing investigations.

ORDER

Dated this the 06^th day of March, 2026 This is an application for anticipatory bail filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita , 2023, by the petitioner, who is the accused in Crime No.PE 01 (A)/2025 registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-

Corruption Branch, Kochi.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the CBI.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent of the allegations levelled against him and that he has been falsely implicated in this case. The learned counsel would further submit that the petitioner has never demanded any illegal gratification, as alleged.

4. Grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner is not opposed by the learned Special Public Prosecutor.

5. The facts of the case are that the petitioner, while working as Principal General Manager in BSNL, allegedly received an amount of Rs.2 Lakh, which was deposited by the de facto complainant into the bank account of the petitioner’s mother-in-law. Now, the allegation of the de facto complainant is that the said amount was paid as a bribe. Accordingly, commission of offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act , 1988, has been alleged. This matter would require investigation.

6. Having gone through the facts of the case and recording no objection submitted by the learned Special Public Prosecutor, and considering that the transaction relates to the year 2020, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Accordingly, the petitioner can be enlarged on bail on the following conditions:

i. The petitioner shall surrender before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today and on such surrender, the Investigating Officer can question the petitioner for two days. In the event of his arrest, the Investigating Officer shall produce the petitioner before the Special Court on the date of arrest itself.

ii. On such production, the jurisdictional court shall release the petitioner on bail, on executing bond for Rs.50,000/- (Rupees fifty thousand only) by himself and by two solvent sureties, each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Special Court.

iii. The petitioner shall co-operate with investigation and shall be made available for interrogation and for the purpose of investigation, as and when the Investigating Officer directs so.

iv. The petitioner, shall not, intimidate the witnesses or interfere with the investigation in any manner.

v. The petitioner shall not commit any offence during currency of this bail and any such involvement is a reason to cancel the bail hereby granted.

Sd/-