VASANTHAVADA RAGHUBABU Vs. STATE OF A.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since common issue arises in all the Criminal Petitions, they are being taken up for disposal together by way of this common order.

(2.) (a) Criminal Petition No.8675 of 2022 is filed seeking to quash the proceedings in P.R.C. No.16 of 2022 on the file of the VI Metropolitan Magistrate, Vijayawada, by the petitioners/A.3 to A.6 respectively, for the offence punishable under Sec. 370A (2) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).

(3.) In the aforesaid cases, customers are being prosecuted for the aforesaid offences. The present Criminal Petitions are filed by the respective petitioners, who are arrayed as accused in the respective crimes, as stated supra, to quash the aforesaid proceedings as against them on the ground that a customer would not come within the purview of the offences under Ss. 3, 4 and 5 of the Act, 1956 and 370 and 370A IPC and hence, cannot be prosecuted for the aforesaid offences.