UDAY SINHA, J.

1. These are four applications for quashing a criminal action for defamation initiated against the petitioners by the complainants, who are four Advocates of this Court. They have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment. The complaint giving rise to the criminal action against the petitioners was filed before the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Patna on 16-11-1971. The learned Magistrate examined the complainants on solemn affirmation and sent the matter for inquiry to Shri Lala Agam Prasad. Magistrate, First Class. On receipt of the inquiry report, the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate issued processes against the petitioners for taking their trial under Sections 500 and 108 of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as the Code) by his order dated 20-1-1972 and thereby the entire prosecution lodged against them.

2. All the petitioners were associated with the production of a film (Nadan). The petitioner in Criminal Miscellaneous 964 of 1972 played the role of the heroine in the film, Navin Nischal, petitioner in Criminal Miscellaneous 866 of 1972 played the role of the hero in the abovementioned film, Deven Verma, petitioner