ORDER :

1. As per the office report, the respondents are served. None is present on behalf of the respondents.

2. Leave granted.

3. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order dated 14.12.2021 passed by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in Crl. O.P. No. 19872 of 2021, by which the High Court has allowed the said application filed by the accused under Section 482, CrPC and caused the criminal proceedings for the offences under Sections 124A, 153A, 504, 505(1)(b) and 505(2) of the IPC, the State has preferred the present appeal.

4. Mr. Sanjay Hegde, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the State has vehemently submitted that the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court quashing and setting aside the criminal proceedings in exercise of the powers under Section 482, CrPC is just contrary to the decision of this Court in the case of State of Uttar Pradesh & Another v. Akhil Sharda & Other; reported in 2022 SCC Online SC 820 as well as the reported decision of this Court in the case of M/s Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd v. State of Maharashtra & Others; reported in (2020) 10 SCC 180. It is submitted by learned counsel that in the prese