Locus standi to quash FIR denied where petitioners were not named as accused; anticipatory relief not examined.

Petitioners who were not named as accused lacked locus standi to seek quashing of the FIR or the connected CBI investigation initiated against other persons. On that basis, the SC declined to entertain their request to set aside the criminal proceedings. The Court also did not examine their prayer for relief under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 at that stage, while leaving them free to pursue appropriate remedies if they are later named by the investigating agency.

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Issues: Whether the petitioners, not being named as accused in the crime under investigation, had locus standi to seek quashing of the FIR or the connected CBI proceedings and to invoke relief under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Analysis: The petitioners were not shown as accused in the crime. In that situation, a prayer to quash the FIR or the investigation initiated against other accused persons could not be maintained by them. For the same reason, the Court declined to examine the claim under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 at their instance, while leaving it open to them to avail appropriate remedies if and when they are named by the investigating agency.

Conclusion: The petitioners had no locus to seek quashing of the FIR or the investigation, and the request for relief under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was not examined.

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