Arun Kumar Jha, J.—Cr.WJC No. 544 of 2024 has been filed on behalf of the petitioner, Bhairab Thakur, seeking following relief(s):—

“(i) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the F.I.R bearing the Rudrapur P.S. Case No 124 of 2023 dated 21/10/2023 registered for offences under Section 04/21 Mines And Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957, MMRD Act 1957 & 56 Bihar Minerals (Concession, Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation & Storage), Revised Rules 2021 and Section 379/34 of I.P.C.

(ii) For issuance of an appropriate declaration holding that institution of FIR and its investigation by the Police is contrary to the provisions of section 22 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and rule 61 of the Bihar Minerals (Concession, prevention of illegal mining, transportation & storage) Rules, 2019.

(iii) For issuance of an appropriate declaration holding institution of F.I.R by the Police is totally without Jurisdiction and it is fit to be quashed by this Hon'ble Court.

(iv) For any other relief(s) to which the petitioner may be found entitled in the facts and circumstances of the present case.”

2. Cr.WJC No. 2079 of 2024 has been filed on behalf of the petitioner, Sushil Kumar Yadav @ Sushil Yadav, seeking following relief(s):—

“(i) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the F.I.R bearing the Rudrapur P.S. Case No 124 of 2023 dated 21/10/2023 registered for offences under Section 379/34 of IPC 04/21 MMRD Act 1957 & 56 Bihar Minerals (Goods and Illegal Mining, Transport & Storage) Prevention, Revised Rules, 2021.

(ii) For issuance of an appropriate declaration holding that institution of FIR and its investigation by the Police is contrary to the provisions of section 22 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and rule 61 of the Bihar Minerals (Concession, prevention of illegal mining, transportation & storage) Rules, 2019.

(iii) For issuance of an appropriate declaration holding institution of F.I.R by the Police is totally without Jurisdiction and it is fit to be quashed by this Hon'ble Court.

(iv) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of mandamus, commanding the respondents to release the 6- wheeler tipper bearing Chasis No. HAR3DXSSL02819569, Engine No. H00257771, Reg. No. BR32GB6559 which has been taken away by the police 20.07.2024 from the petrol pump namely Ranjit Highway Service near Kanhauli (Jhanjharpur).

(v) For any other relief(s) to which the petitioner may be found entitled in the facts and circumstances of the present case.”

3. Briefly stated, common facts in both the aforesaid case(s), are that the District Mining Officer, Madhubani gave a written report to the SHO, Rudrapur P.S., Madhubani about illegal mining and seizure of vehicle and on the basis of said written report, Rudrapur P.S. Case No. 124 of 2023 has been instituted under Sections 379/34 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 4/21 of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, (for short ‘the MMDR Act’) and Rule 56 in Bihar Minerals (Concession, Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation & Storage) Rules, 2019 (for short ‘the 2019 Rules’). In the written report, it has been stated that at 10:00 PM on 20.10.2023, the informant received a secret information about illegal mining of sand in between river Kamla and its eastern embankment road at Village - Mahrail by a JCB. When the raid was conducted, a JCB, and one Tipper (six wheeler) loaded with white sand, were found and the drivers fled away from the spot on seeing the raiding party. Photographs and measurement were taken for the area from which illegal excavation of sand was made. From this measurement, the informant found 3000 + 600 = 3600 cubic feet of white sand was illegally excavated. The JCB was brought to the police station as the Tipper vehicle could not be started, it was left at the