THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY CRIMINAL PETITION No.10886 of 2010 ORDER: This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing the proceedings in Crime No.283 of 2010 on the file of Guntur Taluq Police Station, Guntur, registered against the petitioners for the offences under Sections 420 and 408 IPC. Respondent No.1 is the de facto complainant before the police. In the complaint lodged on 21.07.2010, it is stated that the petitioner herein is working as Gate Keeper from the last ten (10) years but on 12.07.2010, he took away the vehicle of the cold storage i.e. TVS Star City bearing No.AP07 AW 4886 and misappropriated an amount of Rs.36,00,000/- belonging to 21 farmers. On the aforesaid complaint, the police registered the same as a case in Crime No.283 of 2010. In this Criminal Petition, it is the case of the petitioner that he is only a Gate Keeper and he is no way responsible for the alleged misappropriation of amount of the farmers. It is also his case that some of the farmers have complained the same to the District Collector and the Company itself has paid 50% of alleged misappropriated amount, to the farmers. In the counter-affidavit filed by the first respondent/de facto complainant, it is stated that as there was a complaint from the farmers, the District Collector issued directions to the Company for payment of 50% of amount to the farmers and pending investigation into the complaint lodged by the first respondent, the Company has paid 50% of the amount to 21 farmers by way of account payee cheques. It is also stated that though the Company is not liable to pay the same, in order to get peace, such step is taken by it. Although it is the case of the petitioner that he is not responsible and other persons of the Company itself are responsible for the alleged misappropriation of amount, this Court is of the view that it is a matter for investigation. A perusal of the contents of the complaint lodged before the police indicates that they do constitute the offences under Sections 420 and 408 IPC. In view of the limited scope of the application, which is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C., I do not find any ground for quashing the proceedings in Crime No.283 of 2010, at this stage. The Criminal Petition is devoid of merit and it is accordingly dismissed. _______________________ R.SUBHASH REDDY, J 16th NOVEMBER, 2011. kvni