_________________________________________________________ Date of Hearing: 01.05.2024 : Date of Judgment : 06.05.2024 _________________________________________________________ S.S. Mishra, J. 1. In the present case, the petitioner is an accused in Sambalpur Vigilance P.S. Case No.45 of 2021 corresponding to Vigilance G.R.

Case No.32 of 2021 for the offences under Sections-13(2) r/w Section13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 r/w Section-409 IPC.

2. Petitioner in the present petition seeks quashing of the entire criminal prosecution initiated against him. The Vigilance case has been registered on the basis of enquiry report of Lokayukta of Odisha. The relevant part of the direction of the Lokayukta of Odisha reads as under:

“The investigating officer in his investigation report has recommended for filing of charge sheet under Section 13(2), read with Section 13 (1) (a) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code, against Smt. Udian Luha, Ex-

Sarpanch; Sri Bhaktaram Bariha, Ex-Panchayat Executive Officer and Sri Ashis Kumar Debata , Ex-Gram Rozgar Sevak o