1. The petitioners seek to quash the charge made in C.C. No. 8 of 1998 on the file of the Special Court constituted under Tamil Nadu Protection of Interest of Depositors Act, 1997 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).

2. According to the petitioners, even though they are partners of a firm called Omega Commercial Credits and Investments, having office at 18, South Boag Road, T. Nagar, Madras 17, they are not active partners of the said firm not they participate in any of the affairs or business of the firm, such as collecting the deposits, etc., on behalf of the firm.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners contends that neither the FIR lodged by one D.V. Ramana Reddy, residing at 3,4th Circular Road, Jawahar Nagar, Madras 82, nor the statements recorded under Section 161, Cr.P.C. in pursuance of the said FIR, discloses any allegation against the petitioners.

4. Even though it is complained that the said company arrayed as A1 and its managing partner arrayed as A2, who is nonetheless the husband of the petitioners 1 and 2 herein and brother of the third petitioner herein, namely A3, A4 and A5, said to have committed the above crime, viz., by collecting the deposit