HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD LUCKNOW CRIMINAL MISC. WRIT PETITION No. - 11910 of 2025 Court No. - 11 HON'BLE ABDUL MOIN, J. HON'BLE MRS. BABITA RANI, J. 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned A.G.A. for the State. 2. This petition seeks issuance of direction in the nature of certiorari for quashing the impugned F.I.R. bearing Range Case No.11/2025-26 under Sections 26, 41, 42 of the Indian Forest Act, 7/55(2) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, Forest Range Nighasan South, Lakhimpur Kheri. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that the offences as alleged in FIR carry maximum punishment for the term less than seven years imprisonment, whereas, the police is trying to arrest them, which is against the mandate of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita. 4. Learned A.G.A. appearing for respondents-State has given a statement on behalf of investigating agency that because the offence allegedly committed by the petitioners, entails sentence of less than seven years, provisions of Section 35(3) Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 shall be strictly followed in terms of judgments rendered by Hon'ble Supreme Court in re; Arnesh Kumar vs. State of Bihar and another - (2014) 8 SCC 273 and Satender Kumar Antil vs. CBI and another- (2022) 10 SCC 51. 5. Considering the stand of the investigating agency, learned counsel for the petitioners states that his petition be disposed of in view of the above Versus Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Shailesh Kumar Singh Counsel for Respondent(s) : G.A. Pankaj Kumar @ Pankaj Kumar Dixit And Another .....Petitioner(s) State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Deptt. Of Environment Forest And Climate Change Lko. And Others .....Respondent(s) said facts. 6. Accordingly, this petition is disposed of in view of the provisions of Section 35(3) Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the law as laid down by the Apex Court in re; Arnesh Kumar (supra) and Satender Kumar Antil (supra). 7. However, it is directed that the petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer of the concerned police station whenever they are required to cooperate in the investigation. Thereafter, they shall continue to cooperate in the investigation till its completion, failing which, protection of this order may be withdrawn on the application being moved by the prosecution or the complainant. December 17, 2025 prateek CRLP No. 11910 of 2025 2 (Mrs. Babita Rani,J.) (Abdul Moin,J.) Digitally signed by :- PRATEEK ARORA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench