(1.) Petitioners in this petition have challenged the order of taking cognizance and issuance of summons by the Special Judge and have sought to quash the proceedings initiated against them for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 409 , 420 , 120(B) of IPC and Sections 21 , 23 r/w 4(1) and 4(1A) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act , 1957 (for short, ' MMDR Act ') and Rule 144 r/w 165 of Karnataka Forest Rules, 1969.
(2.) The details of the proceedings and the rank of the petitioners and the gist of the allegations made against them are detailed in the table here below:-
(3.) The contentions of the learned counsel for the petitioners are as follows: