J U D G M E N T

B.R. GAVAI, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal challenges the judgment and order dated 8th June, 2022 passed by the learned Single Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Patna in Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 1375 of 2021 wherein the learned Single Judge dismissed the Writ Petition preferred by the present appellant, HDFC Bank1, to Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by NARENDRA PRASAD D 12a :t 5e 2: :2 50 22 I41S. T1 H0.22 ereinafter referred to as the ‘appellant-bank’.

Reason:

quash the First Information Report2 being Case No. 549 of 2021 registered at Gandhi Maidan Police Station, Patna on 22nd November, 2021, against certain officials of the appellant-bank working at its Exhibition Road Branch, Patna for the offences punishable under Sections 34, 37, 120B, 201, 206, 217, 406, 409, 420 and 462 of the Indian Penal Code, 18603.

3. The facts which give rise to the present appeal are as under:-

3.1 In October, 2021, Smt. Priyanka Sharma, Deputy Director of Income Tax (Investigation), Unit-2(2), Respondent No. 5 in the present proceedings, conducted a search and seizure operation in the case of several income-tax assessees including Shri Sunil Khemka (HUF), Smt.