ORDER:

The instant criminal petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short ‘ Cr.P.C )/under Section 528 of BNSS ., has been filed by the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 4, seeking quashment of the proceedings pending against them in Crime No.91 of 2025, of Chirala II Town P.S., Chirala, Bapatla District registered for the offences punishable under Sections 79,351(2), r/w 3(5) of BNS.

2. Heard Sri M.Phani Kiran, learned counsel for the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 4 and Ms. K. Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petition may be disposed of by giving protection to the petitioners vide guidelines of the Hon’ble Apex Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar1

4. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, on instructions, would submit that the offences registered against the petitioners are punishable with less than seven years period of imprisonment and necessary direction may be given to the concerned Station House Officer.

5. Considering the submissions, this Criminal petition is disposed of with the following;

(2014) 8 SCC 273 a. Investigating Officer is at liberty to