Madras High CourtCRL OP/6710/2021dismissed

Karthikeyani v. The State Rep. By Its

2021-04-16Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani3 pages

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

The Petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offence punishable under Sections 7, 7A and 12 of Prevention of Corruption ( Amendment) Act, 2018 and 120 B of I.P.C in Crime No.08 of 2021, seeks bail.

2. Totally there are five accused in this case and the petitioner herein is A1. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner is a joint Chief Engineer in Highways Department and formerly superintending Engineer in Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Chennai. It is alleged that one Aman Goyal is a contractor for installing LED lights and the petitioner herein along with other accused approached him and informed that the petitioner is the deciding authority in respect of awarding the multi-crore Government contracts and demanded Rs.1,30,00,000/- for securing the contract. Believing the sugar coated words of the petitioner and other accused, Aman Goyal paid the said amount to secure the contract. Thereafter, the petitioner and other accused neither secured the contract nor returned back the amount. Hence, a law enforcing agency registered a case against the petitioner and other accused persons.

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3. The counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He further submits the cheque was given to A4 and A5 and this petitioner has nothing to do with the alleged offence. Hence, he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate(Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent submits that the petitioner pretended himself that he is the granting authority to grant multi-crore Government contracts with regard to lighting works and demanded Rs.1,30,00,000/- for securing the contract. Thereafter, the petitioner neither secured the contract nor returned back the amount. Hence he vehemently opposed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

5.Taking note of the fact that the amount involved in this petition is very huge and the petitioner being a Government Servant has involved in these type of criminal activities, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed.

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