(1.) Criminal Petition No.11823 of 2013 is filed on behalf of Accused No.7, Criminal Petition No.7851 of 2013 is filed on behalf of Accused No.6 and Criminal No.7859 of 2013 is filed on behalf of Accused No.9, all under Sec. 482 Cr.P.C. seeking to quash the proceedings that are pending against them in C.C.No.332 of 2013 on the file of the Court of XI Special Magistrate, Erramanzil, Hyderabad.
(2.) Heard the submission of learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, who is representing respondent No.1, as well as the learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2. Gave anxious consideration to the contents of the decisions that are relied upon by learned counsel for the petitioners in all the three cases and learned counsel for respondent No.2.
(3.) A complaint was filed by respondent No.2 against Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, which is arrayed as Accused No.1, and 8 others, of whom the petitioners herein are also arrayed as Accused, alleging that they committed offence punishable under Sec. 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The said complaint was taken on file and initially it was numbered as C.C.No.1588 of 2012. Thereafter a new number was assigned vide C.C.No.332 of 2013. Seeking to quash the proceedings that are pending against the petitioners, three Criminal Petitions are filed before this Court.