ORDER

This Criminal Petition has been filed seeking to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.1423 of 2023, on the file of the Principal Junior Civil Judge-Cum-Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Hanumakonda, Hanumakonda District, wherein the petitioners were arrayed as accused Nos.3 and 6, for the offences punishable under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code , 1860 (for short ‘IPC’) and Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act , 1955 (for short ‘EC Act’).

2. Heard Mr.Kandhikatla Sai Krishna, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent No.1.

3. The specific allegation against the petitioners/accused Nos.3 and 6 is that they have procured PDS rice from the beneficiaries at cheaper rate to sell the same for profit and on 08.01.2023 at about 12:30 hours, the petitioners were found in possession of 20 bags of PDS rice totalling 5 quintals.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that without there being any complaint from any beneficiary, alleging that the rice was procured deceptively or with a criminal intent and charging the petitioners for prosecution is untenable and improper. The allegations, even taken