ORDER :

1. Heard the petitioners’ counsel and the learned HCGP appearing for respondent No.1 and the learned counsel for respondent No.2.

2. This petition is filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. seeking relief to quash the proceedings initiated against these petitioners for the offences punishable under Section 420 read with Section 429 of IPC, Section 11 read with Sections 9, 8 and 4 of the Karnataka Prevention of Cows Slaughter and Cattle Protection Act, 1964 and Section 11(1)(d) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 on the file of the II Judicial Magistrate I Class Court, Belagavi. The grievance of the petitioners is that they are the partners of M/s. Shrusthi Agro and Cold Storage situated at Plot No.SPL, Q-1, KSIDC, Kanabargi Industrial Area, Auto Nagar Belagavi and they are engaged in the cold storage business i.e. trimming and packing of meat/beef, seasonal fruits etc. The further contention of the petitioners is that they are only procuring meat from the local traders and are processing and storing the meat in cold storage units, cold storage rooms/freezers as per the requirement of the traders/customers/parties etc. The petitioners further contended that they are carry