( 1 ) THESE are seven petitions under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (in short Cr. P. C.) filed by Shri Srikant Somani and Others challenging the order of the court of learned Metropolitan Magistrate Dated 18. 8. 2003 whereby the petitioners being accused Nos. 3 to 6 in different complaint cases under Section 138 of the negotiable INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881 (hereinafter the `act ) were summoned. As per the complaints filed by respondent - Sharad Gupta - 24 cheques were issued by the petitioners, some from the account of the petitioners Nos. 1 to 3 and some from the account of the petitioners 1, 3 and 4. All these cheques were dishonoured. A notice of demand as required by proviso (b) to Section 138 of the Act was issued on 5. 5. 2003. The petitioners are stated to be persons incharge of and responsible for the conduct of the business of the two companies, namely, M/s. Vimal Trading Co. and M/s. Krishna trading Co. , The notice, therefore, was issued to the two companies and to the petitioners at three addresses. The notice after mentioning why the cheques were issued and how they were dishonoured calls upon the petitioners to pay the sum of rs. 14,50,000/-