Ranjit More. J.

Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith and by consent, the matters are heard finally.

2. The petitioners in all the above petitions have approached this Court invoking jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with the provisions of Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for quashing and setting-aside the charge-sheet/criminal proceedings of special case No.52 of 2017 pending on the file of learned Special Judge, CBI, Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 120-B, 420 read with 511 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short “the IPC”) and Sections 13(2) and 15 read with 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short “the PC Act”).

3. The above referred charge-sheet is filed against 18 accused. The accused Nos. 1 to 4 are the purchasers, accused No.5 is an advocate, accused No.6 is the proprietor, accused Nos. 7 and 8 are the Sub- Registrars and accused Nos. 9 to 18 are the power of attorney holders of the sellers.

4. The case of the prosecution is that during the period between 2007 and 2009, the accused No.1 (Shri Deepak Dattatray Gadgil)-the authorized signatory of accused No.2 (Shri Virendra Dattatray M