JUDGMENT

1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioners-accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 27, 29, 32, 38, 39, 42, 45, 47, 53, 59 and 63 under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.1205/2017 on the file of Principal Civil Judge (Sr.Dn.) and CJM Court, Chirtradurga, for the offences punishable under Sections 79 and 80 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963.

2. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioners-accused and the learned Additional S.P.P. for respondent-State. Perused the case papers.

3. The case of the prosecution in brief is that on 8.7.2017 on receiving a credible information, respondent police along with panchas had visited Harsha Sports Paradise Club, Chitradurga at about 4.00 p.m. and found that several persons were playing Andar-Bahar card game by putting money on the table. Later the accused persons after seeing the police had tried to escape and as such respondent had arrested petitioners and seized the playing cards as well as the amount laid on the table. On the basis of the complaint a case has been registered and after investigation charge sheet has been filed.

4. It is the main contention of the learned counsel for the peti