On December 29, 1961, the Government of Maharashtra promulgated a notification in exercise of the powers conferred by section 14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (as amended by Bombay Act XXIII of 1951 in its application to the State of Maharashtra) appointing Mr. V. M, Gehani to be a Special judicial Magistrate having jurisdiction over the area comprising Greater Bombay and Ratnagiri District, and conferred upon him all the powers of a Presidency Magistrate in respect of the trial in the case involving the seizure of approximately 49,990 tolas of foreign gold and known as the "Deogad Gold Seizure Case. ' On January 10, 1962, the Government of Maharashtra gave consent in writing as required by section 196 A sub section (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to the institution of criminal proceedings against the petitioners and eight others for offences punishable "under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 read with section 167(81) of the (as amended) and section 120B of the Indian Penal Code read with section 167(81) of the (as amended) and section 8(1) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.