M.Y.Iqbal, J.

1. The petitioners who are nine in numbers have filed this application under Sec. 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing the entire criminal proceeding including the order dated 27.1.1996 passed by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Patna in Complaint Case No. 975(C) of 1995 taking cognizance of an offence under Sec. 323, 324, 120-B, 498-A of the Indian Penal Code and Sec. 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The aforesaid complaint case was initiated on the basis of complaint filed on 27.7.1995 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Patna by opposite party No. 2 who is wife of petitioner No. 9.

2. The undisputed facts are that the elder sister of opposite party No. 2 (complainant) resides with her husband and other family members in Delhi. The negotiation of marriage was initiated and settled by the petitioner and father of complainant and ultimately the marriage was solemnised at Delhi and, thereafter, petitioner No. 9 and the opposite party No. 2 started living their conjugal life as husband and wife.

3. It appears from the complaint petition, a copy of which is Annexure 1 to the application that the petitioners started torturing the opposite party N