Colombo’s chief magistrate has refused to issue arrest warrants for two former directors of Krrish Transworks who are in India, citing a lack of evidence, court officials said on October 2.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) had sought the warrants as part of a probe into alleged corruption linked to a Colombo property deal.

The case involves an alleged bribe of 70 million Sri Lankan rupees paid to former MP Namal Rajapaksa in 2013 in connection with the Krrish project, according to investigators. Another suspect, Siriwardena, is currently in remand.

The magistrate ruled that the evidence presented was not sufficient to justify the warrants. The decision is a setback for the anti-graft commission, which has been pursuing several high-profile cases from the Rajapaksa era.

The Krrish project, a proposed luxury development in Colombo, has been mired in controversy for over a decade. CIABOC says its investigation will continue despite the ruling.