N. G. Chaudhuri, J. :- In this petition under S.401 read with S.482 Criminal P. C., the petitioner, who describes himself as a carrying contractor, prays for quashing the F.I.R. in N.P.P.S. Case No. 18 dated 24-4-82 and investigation staffed by the Police on the basis of the said F.I.R. Without issuing any Rule, treating the petition as a contested application, we ordered stay of investigation till disposal of the petition on 6-7-82.

2. N.P.P.S. Case No. 18 dated 24-4-82 mentioned above is epilogue to S.P.P.S. Case No. 89 dated 13-4-82. The subject matter of both the cases is huge quantity of R.B.D. palm oil which is sold exclusively through public distribution system, that is to say through Ration Shops. For proper appreciation of the contentions raked it is necessary to narrate the facts in some details.

3. Promode Gupta, a partner of M/s. Bulichand Oil Mills informed O.C. Budge Budge P.S. by a letter dated 7-4-82 that their firm worked as tinning agents of S.T.C. of India Ltd. and in that capacity through their transport contractors, named in the letter, they made arrangements for lifting from Budge Budge installation 10.840 M.T. R.B.D. Palm oil in lorry tanker No. 4070