ORDER

Special leave granted.

The respondent is a former Director of Messrs. Golden Forest (India) Limited. This Company had collected money from the general public for purchasing the land and had promised that the amount would be returned after expiry of the maturity period fixed through cheques. When monies were not repaid and complaints were received by the State, the Vigilance Department registered FIRs against the respondent as a co-accused in the cases registered against Messrs Golden Forest (India) Limited. The offences were under Sections 406, 420, 468, 471, 120B of Indian Panel Code, 1860 (for short "IPC") and Section 7(2) of the Punjab Reforms Act, 1972. According to the prosecution, crores of rupees had been obtained by the said Company from members of the public. But on the maturity date the sums were not returned. When proceedings were initiated in different courts the respondent filed an application under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (for short "Cr. P.C.") in the High Court praying that the charges framed against him may be dropped. Another application under Section 482 was filed to the effect that the cases which have been instituted against him shou