The two petitioners, who stand arrayed as accused 1 and 2 in C.C. 592 of 1980 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Dharmapuri, have preferred this petition under S. 482, Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings against them. The petition has come to be filed in the following circumstances : The first petitioner was a Reserve Sub-Inspector in the Armed Reserve and the second petitioner is his wife. The first petitioner's services were terminated on 19-8-1979 on account of his involvement in a strike organised by the policemen. But subsequently, the Government took a lenient view of the matter and reinstated the first petitioner as well as the other members of the police force, who had also been dismissed from service for their involvement in the strike. Again on 8-8-1980, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, placed the first petitioner under suspension on the ground that a criminal case was pending against him.

2. The Inspector of Police, Pennagaram Police Station, registered a case in Crime No. 98 of 1980 regarding theft and illegal transport of sandalwood billets. After investigating the case, he filed charge-sheet No. 101 of 1980 on 25-10-1980, against four p