IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CR. MMO No. 242 of 2022 Reserved on: 05.03.2026 Date of Decision: 21.4.2026 Vijay Kumar ...Petitioner Versus State of H.P. and others ...Respondents Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No.

For the Petitioners : Mr Rajiv Jiwan, Senior Advocate, with M/s Prashant Sharma and Yug Singhal, Advocate For th e Respondents : Mr Lokender Kutlehria, Additional h Advocate General.

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The petitioner has filed the present petition for quashing of F.I.R. No.11 of 2022, dated 29.01.2022, registered at police Station Sujanpur, District Hamirpur, H.P., for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 20 and 22 of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act 1957 (Mining Act).

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

2. Briefly stated, the facts giving rise to the present petition are that the police were on patrolling duty on 28.01.2022. They received secret information at .Jangalberi at 11:30 PM regarding the theft of minor minerals from a Khad with the help of JCB and Tippers. The police prepa