JUDGMENT :

GITA GOPI, J.

RULE. Learned advocates waive service of notice of rule on behalf of the respective respondents. These petitions involve identical questions on law and facts and hence, they are decided by this common judgment.

1. Challenge in these petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is to the communications dated 02.09.2019, 04.10.2019 and 10.10.2019 addressed by the respondent, Police Sub Inspector, Vadodara Taluka Police Station, Vadodara Rural to the respondent-Bank Manager, whereby the respondent-Bank has been instructed to “freeze” the bank accounts of the petitioners in exercise of powers under section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

2. For the purpose of narration of facts, Special Criminal Application No. 2409 of 2020 is taken as the lead matter:

The land bearing Block No. 116 (Old Revenue Survey No. 70/54), situated at Village: Sherkhi, District: Vadodara, ad-measuring 0-94-09 Hectare-Are-Sq. Metres, was proposed to be acquired under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) for the purpose of Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. The Notification under section 3A of the Act came to be published on 03