THE HON’BLE SMT.JUSTICE TIRUMALA DEVI EADA

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed by the petitioners-accused Nos.1 to 4 seeking to quash the proceedings against them in CC No.1257 of 2022 on the file of Judicial Magistrate of First Class at Dharmapuri, for the offences under Sections 420 IPC and Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act (for short ‘EC Act’).

2. Heard Sri G. Raghu, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri Jithender Rao Veeramalla, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondents.

3. The case of the prosecution is that on reliable information about illegal transportation of PDS rice at Endapalli Cross Road, the Sub-Inspector of Police, Velgatoor along with two constables rushed to the scene of offence and found one TATA Ace Mega Auto bearing No.TS 15 UB 2879. They stopped that vehicle and on checking they found PDS rice bags in the said vehicle. Immediately they secured the presence of two panchaas and in their presence, interrogated the accused. The accused confessed that they are working as driver and cleaner of the said TATA Ace vehicle of the accused No.3 and on the instructions of accused No.3, they used to collect PDS rice from accused No.4, who is a