- (1.) The crux of the facts, which needs a necessary mention for the limited purpose of deciding the core controversy, involved in the instant petition and emanating from the record, is that, a criminal case was registered against the petitioners-accused, by means of FIR No.224 dated 27.12.1996 (Annexure P1), on accusation of having committed the offences punishable under sections 3 and 4 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (hereinafter to be referred as "the Act") by the police of Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala. After investigation of the case, the police submitted the un-traced report (Annexure P2) on the basis of enquiry report (Annexure P3), which were accepted by the JMIC, by way of order dated 1.9.1997 (Annexure P4). In the wake of revision petition of State of Punjab, the matter was remanded back by the revisional Court, vide order dated 13.3.1999 (Annexure P6).
(2.) Dissatisfied, the petitioners-accused filed the petition under section 482 Cr.PC, challenging the revisional order (Annexure P6). The petition was partly accepted. The case was sent back to the Area Magistrate to decide the matter afresh by this Court, by virtue of order dated 23.5.2000 (Annexure P7).
(3.) Thereafter, the police had also moved an application for reinvestigation of the case under section 173(8) Cr.PC, which was dismissed by the JMIC, vide order dated 31.10.2000 (Annexure P8/A). At the same time, the JMIC again accepted the un-traced report and cancelled the case, by means of order of even date (Annexure P8).;