IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY, NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR Criminal Application No. 2365 of 2006, 2478 of 2006 and 2438 of 2006 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Office Notes, Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders or directions : Court's or Judge's orders and Registrar's orders. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mr.S.P.Kshirsagar, Adv., Mr.Anil Mardikar, Adv. and Mr.Ranjeet Bhuibhar, Adv. for the Applicants. Mr.Ahirkar, A.P.P. for the Respondent-State. CORAM : R.C.Chavan, J. DATE : August 22, 2006. Heard the learned counsel for the respective parties. A retired Executive Engineer, a retired Assistant Accounts Officer and a retired Chief Accounts Finance Officer (CAFO) (applicants in the afore-mentioned three Criminal Applications) seek anticipatory bail as they apprehend their arrest in crime no. 278 of 2006, u/ss. 420, 409, 468, 471 r/w. 34 of the Indian Penal Code in respect of purchases made by the Officers working under them in the years 1997 to 2000 at a cost which was considerably higher than that at which the articles were available in the market. Considering the fact that the alleged offences took place six years ago and that most of the evidence which the investigating officer seek to collect would be in the form of documents, custodial investigation of these three retired Officers may not be necessary. In view of this, notwithstanding fervent appeals of the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, these three applicants are entitled to be released on anticipatory bail in the event of their arrest. The applications are, therefore, allowed on the following terms : In the event of arrest, the applicants may be released on P.R. Bond of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty thousand only) each with solvent surety in the like amount on the condition that the applicants shall be available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required and shall attend the Office of the investigating Officer every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11.00 A.M. and 12.00 noon. JUDGE ssj