IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA CIRCUIT BENCH AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 3rd DAY OF MARCH 2011 BEFORE THE HONELE MR. JUSTICE V. JAGANNATHAN CRIMINAL PETITION NO.10271/ 2011 BETWEEN Nagaraja, S/o. Veerappa Age: 38 years, 0cc: Bill Collector Karur village, Siruguppa Taluk Bellary Dt. PETITIONER (By Sri. Manjunath 0. Patil, Adv.) AND The Sub-Inspector of Police Sirigeri Police Station Sirigeri, Bellary Dt. Rep. By SPP, High Court of Karnataka Circuit Bench at Dharwad. RESPONDENT (By Sri, Anand K. Navalgimath, Adv.) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.P.C. SEEKING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.06/2011 OF SIRIGERI POLICE STATION, IN BELLARY DISTRICT SO FAR AS PETITIONER IS CONCERNED, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 406, 408 & 420 R/W 34 OF IPC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: ORDER Heard both sides in respect of the anticipatory bail sought by the petitioner, who along with other accused persons is alleged to have committed offences punishable under sections 406, 408, 420 R/w Section 34 of IPC. 2. The case of the prosecution is that, the President and Secretary of Karur Gram Panchayat, along with this petitioner who is the Bill Collector, misappropriated the amount meant for persons who were the beneficiaries of MGNREGA Yojana and the amount involved is said to be Rs.8,48,000/-. It is the prosecution’s case that the amount has been disbursed in the names of K. Sunkanna, H. Mudivappa and Javaramshettv through cheques and after verification by the Executive Officer during inspection, the misappropriation of funds came to light. 3. The submission of the petitioner’s Counsel is that this petitioner is only a Bill Collector and had got nothing to do with the amount of misappropriation and village people have also not stated about this petitioner. 4. In my view, grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in the case of this nature is not desirable as it may lead to hampering of investigation and tampering the evidence. 5. For the above reasons, the petition is rejected. The petitioner is at liberty to move the trial Court for regular bail and if the bail application is filed, the same shall be considered preferably on the same day. Sd! gab JUDGE