1. In this writ petition, the petitioners have prayed for quashing of seizure of 37 bags of sandal woods in connection with Case No.3011C/93 pending in the court of respondent No. 4 as well as for quashing of the confiscation proceeding initiated by respondent No. 3 in respect of the aforesaid seized articles and for a direction to the respondents to release the seized 37 bags of the said sandal woods.

2. The short facts enumerated in this writ petition are as follows :

A case appears to have been registered on the basis of a report of the Forest Beat Officer, Khunti (respondent No. 2) on the allegation, inter alia, that upon receipt of information that sandal woods cut into pieces had been kept behind the line hotel at village Kujla, Khunti-Torpa Road, he alongwith other personnels of the Forest Department went there and seized the said articles. On enquiry, Kailash Mahto told that the petitioners had purchased the sandal woods from the local villagers and they were trying to transport the same. Thereafter the said 37 bags of sandal woods were seized and were kept in the custody of the Forest Range Officer. On the basis of the aforesaid report, a case, being Case No. 30I1C