JUDGMENT :

YOGENDRA KUMAR SRIVASTAVA, J.

1. Heard Sri. Muktesh Kumar Singh, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri. Vinod Kant, learned Additional Advocate General alongwith Sri. Pankaj Saxena, learned Additional Government Advocate-I and Ms. Akansha Gaur, learned State Law Officer for the State opposite party.

2. The present application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 [the Code] has been filed seeking to quash the charge sheet dated 14.05.2015 as well as the cognizance order dated 06.04.2016 and also the entire proceedings of Case No. 210 of 2016 (State vs. Srikant and Others), arising out of Case Crime No. 149 of 2015, under Section 3/4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1894 [PDPP Act], Police Station Jigna, District Mirzapur pending before the 4th Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mirzapur.

3. The records of the case indicate that the criminal proceedings were initiated pursuant to an FIR dated 26.03.2015 lodged against the applicant, which was registered as Case Crime No. 149 of 2015, under Section 3/4 of the PDPP Act, Police Station Jigna, District Mirzapur. The case was investigated and a charge sheet dated 14.05.2015 was pla