Y. K. Sabharwal, J. ( 1 ) BINOY Jacob, the petitioner, who seeks anorder from this Court for being released on bail is one of the accused in Firstinformation Report bearing No. RCA (A) 92-ACU VI dated 28/11/1992. The other named accused in the F. I. R. are V. Krishnamurthy and histwo sons K. Chandra Sandy and K. Jayakar. The case of the prosecution inbrief, is as under : ( 2 ) IN the year 1982 V. Krishnamurthy while functioning as Vice-Chairman and Managing Director for Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) joinedhands with Binoy Jacob, Director of M/s. Apten Marketing and Managementservices (P) Ltd. and K. Jayakar in order to earn ill-gotten money in theform of commission from various multi-nationals in connection with the transactions held by these multi-nationals with the companies under the control and influence of V. Krishnamurthy in his capacity as a public servant. Inpursuance of the said object Binoy Jacob and K. Jayakar alongwith Premkumar set up a company on 6/07/1982 with the following shares : ( 3 ) V. Krishnamurthy while functioning as public servant participatedin the management of M/s. Apten Marketing and Management Service (P)Ltd. through his son Jayakar. V. Krishnamurthy became Chairman ofm. U. L. on 21st March 1983 and. continued to be its Chairman till 1 7/03/1985. Between 17/05/1985 and 1/04/1990 V. Krishnamurthywas part-time Chairman of M. U. L. and full time Chairman of Steel Authorityof India (SAIL ). M/s. Sumitomo Corporation incorporated in Japan whilehaving official business with MUL paid commission of about Rs. 6 lakhs tom/s. Apten Marketing and Management Services (P) Ltd. Huge commissionswere also paid to M/s. Apten by various other multi-nationals with whomv. Krishnamurthy had official dealings as public servant. M/s. Apten Marketing and Management Services (P) Ltd. succeeded in obtaining commissionthrough representation agreements with multi-national companies for theirwork in India on account of official position of V. Krishnamurthy as publicservant. ( 4 ) FURTHER the case of the prosecution is that when it becameapparent that M/s. Apten Marketing and Management Services (P) Ltd. could receive huge commission as a result of influence exercised by V. Krishnamurthy, the eldest son of V. Krishnamurthy, namely, K. Chandrasandy bought a shell company viz. Link Universe Company Limited on 9/09/1985 in Hongkong It is learnt that V. Krishnamurthyhas considerable involvement in the business of his son K. Chandrasandy and Binoy Jacob. Link Universe Company Limited on 9/09/1985 in Hongkong It is learnt that V. Krishnamurthyhas considerable involvement in the business of his son K. Chandrasandy and Binoy Jacob. Since Binoy Jacob did not succeed in gettingresident s permit in Hongkong despite his efforts, one David Barrettwas made his assignee for M/s. Link Universe Company Limited, Hongkong. a 50 : 50 owned company between Binoy Jacob and K. Chandra. M/s. Linkuniverse Company collected over 10 millions US dollars from 1985 to 1990and most of the money received by M/s. Link Universe Company by way ofcommission, which M/s. Apten would have otherwise received in India, wasdeposited in Union Bank of Switzerland Account No. 709475, which had inbalance US dollars 56. 76,517. 24 as on 27/05/1988. This company hastwo other numbered accounts also in the Switzerland viz. 675-701 and706-350. Some portion of the money collected by way of commission wasutilised in securing further business through other public servants by corruptand illegal means. On 27/10/1988 M/s. Link Universe Companyreceived Yen 126 millions as "v. K. Profit" and on the next day US dollars0. 4 millions was transferred to M/s. International Engineering account ando. I millions US dollars to M/s. Ergodyne s accounts, the two companies inwhich the two sons of V. Krishnamurthy were having shareholding interests. Thus, V. Krishnamurthy has, by corrupt or illegal means or by otherwiseabusing his official position as a public servant, in conspiracy with Binoyjacob. K. Chandra and Jayakar and others obtained huge pecuniary advantages for themselves and for others and these facts and circumstances constitute offences punishable under Section 120-B, Indian Penal Code and Sections 5 (2) read with Section 5 (l) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 as well assection. 13 (2) read with Section 13 (l) (d) of Prevention of Corruptionact, 1988. ( 5 ) BINOY Jacob was arrested on 2/12/1992. On 2 4/12/1992 the learned Special Judge while dismissing bail application ofthe petitioner stated in the order that it does seem somewhat unusual thatthough the main allegation is against V. Krishnamurthy and his two sonsbinoy Jacob has been arrested but observed that the Court had no jurisdiction to direct the arrest of a particular person at a particular time. Thepresent bail application was filed on 2/01/1993 and after four learnedjudges of this Court declined to hear the matter, it has been fixed for hearingbefore me. Thepresent bail application was filed on 2/01/1993 and after four learnedjudges of this Court declined to hear the matter, it has been fixed for hearingbefore me. I have heard learned Counsel for the parties and have gonethrough the relevant record. ( 6 ) IN support of the bail application Mr. Rajinder Singh, learnedcounsel appearing for the petitioner, vehemently contends. that out of thecompanies mentioned in the F. I. R. the involvement of the petitioner is alleged to be in relation to only two companies, namely, M/s. Apten and M/s. Link Universe. Counsel submits that as per F. I. R. the petitioner has nothing vto do with other companies mentioned in the F. I. R. , namely, M/s. Internationi Engineering and M/s. Ergodyne s with which the two sons of V. Krishnamurthy are alleged to be linked with. It is also urged that the petitioner has no nexus with M/s. Link Universe. Counsel contends that according to F. I. R. the main allegations are against Krishnamurthy and his twosons and the sole allegation against the petitioner is under Section 120-B,ipc of conspiracy in the acts concerning Krishnamurthy and the basic offenceand the substantive offences being under Prevention of Corruption Act, thepetitioner cannot be charged with the same as he is not and was not a publicservant. Mr. Singh further submits that the main allegations of the prosecution are against Krishnamurthy and his two sons but they have not beenarrested for the reasons best known to the Investigation Agency and that thepetitioner has been meted out with discreminatory treatment. It is furtherpointed out by learned Counsel that it is not a case of the prosecution thatthere has been any transaction between the company of which the petitioneris alleged to be the Director and M/s. Maruti Udyog Limited or S. A. I. L. , yetthe petitioner has been arrested for having received illegal commissions oncounts of misuse of official position of Krishnamurthy. Mr. Singh contendsthat the petitioner has deep roots in the society, his family is at Delhi, he isan income-tax assessee and has immoveable property at Delhi, and thathe is not a previous convict and not a fugitive from justice and, therefore,there is no liklihood of the petitioner fleeing from justice and not joining theinvestigation in the event of his being granted bail. ( 7 ) OPPOSING the prayer for grant of bail, Mr. ( 7 ) OPPOSING the prayer for grant of bail, Mr. Lal, learned Counselfor the C. B. I. , contends, that in conspiracy with the petitioner huge pecuniaryadvantages have been received and huge amount of commissions have beendeposited in the foreign banks as detailed in the F. I. R. and the offence of which the petitioner is accused is grave and the petitioner is likely to tamperwith evidence. Refuting the contentions put forth on behalf of the petitionermr. Lal submits that it is not a fit case for grant of bail. Learned Counselfurther contends that it is the discretion of the investigating agency as towhich accused is to be arrested and at what stage and the petitioner maynot be admitted to bail simply because other accused have not been arrested. ( 8 ) THERE is no hard and fast rules regarding grant or refusal to grantbail. Each case has to be considered on its own merits. ( 9 ) THERE is no doubt that the investigating agency in its discretionhas to decide as to which accused is to bs arrested and at what stage. Thecourt, can, however, ask the Investigating Agency in appropriate cases as towhat is the reason for not arresting the main accused. In case no satisfactoryanswer is given, the Court can take into consideration this factor, amongstothers, while considering the bail application of the co-accused. In thecountry governed by rule of law the discretion of the investigating agencydoes not mean whim, fancy or wholly arbitrary exercise of discretion. Thefacts disclosed in the First Information Report show that the main accused isv. Krishnamurthy who is stated to have obtained huge pecuniary advantageacting in conspiracy with his two sons and Binoy Jacob. V. Krishnamurthyand his son K. Chandra, according to prosecution, were interrogated only on 2/12/1992 and at no time thereafter. Jayakar has not been interrogated. Jayakar is stated to be abroad. The prosecution in exercise of itsdiscretion has not arrested V. Krishnamurthy and his son K. Chandra. Itis,of course upto them to arrest or not to arrest. The explanation given byprosecution is that as V. Krishnamurthy has been enlarged on interim bail onmedical grounds in another case and that is the reason for not arresting him. About K. Chandra. The prosecution in exercise of itsdiscretion has not arrested V. Krishnamurthy and his son K. Chandra. Itis,of course upto them to arrest or not to arrest. The explanation given byprosecution is that as V. Krishnamurthy has been enlarged on interim bail onmedical grounds in another case and that is the reason for not arresting him. About K. Chandra. the C. B. T. says that as he has been enlarged on bail inanother case and has been restrained from going abroad and that is why hehas not been arrested in this case. It may be noticed that order for releaseof Chandra was passed much before the date of F. I. R. in question. It is notdisputed by C. B. I, that the passport of Binoy Jacob is also with it. Thequestion is not about -arrest or non-arrest of Krishnamurthy or his sons but,prima fade, one does get an impression that the C. B. T. . a prime investigatingagency of the country, is treating Binoy Jacob differently. As noticed aboveas per F. I. R. , in International Engineering and M/s. Ergodyne s account twosons of V. Krishnamurthy were having shareholding interests but it does nottalk of Binoy Jacob having interest in the said two companies. ( 10 ) BINOY Jacob was arrerted on 2/12/1992. Admittedly. if the chargesheet is not filed within the outer limit provided by proviso (a) to Section 167 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the accused Binoy Jacobshall have to be released on bail as a matter of right. Counsel for C. B. T. very fairly stated that the C. B. T. is not likely to file chargesheet within thestipulated period of sixty days which is going to expire after about 2/3 days. ( 11 ) HAVING regard to the totality of the circumstances the petitionerhas made out a case for his release on hail. Accordingly. T direct that thepetitioner be released on bail on his furnishing a bond in the sum of Rs. 2lakhs with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Specialcourt subject to the following conditions : (1) The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence. (2) He would join the investigation as and when required. (3) The petitioner would not leave India except with the permissionof the Court. 2lakhs with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Specialcourt subject to the following conditions : (1) The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence. (2) He would join the investigation as and when required. (3) The petitioner would not leave India except with the permissionof the Court. (4) As and when the petitioner leaves Delhi he will inform theinvestigating Officer as to the place of his visit and addressthere and the date of return. ( 12 ) THE bail application is allowed in above terms, petition allowed