Alleged siphoning of development funds and illicit wealth accumulation: s.197 CrPC sanction not needed at cognizance; challenge dismissed.

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....Prior sanction under s.197 CrPC was held inapplicable at the cognizance stage for alleged money-laundering where the impugned acts-unauthorised sanctioning of development funds and accumulation of illicit wealth-were prima facie personal illegal acts lacking reasonable nexus with official duty, since siphoning public funds cannot form part of lawful official functions. The court further held that even where sanction is required, the issue may be raised before the trial court at any stage and sanction can be obtained any time before judgment; therefore, absence of sanction at cognizance does not, by itself, invalidate the cognizance order. The writ petition challenging cognizance was dismissed - HC....