of the criminal proceedings against the appellant-bank would cause undue hardship to the appellant-bank. 31. In the result, we pass the following order. (i) The appeal is allowed. (ii) The impugned judgment and order dated 8th June 2022 passed by the learned Single Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Patna in Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 1375 of 2021 is quashed and set aside. 22(iii) The First Information Report being Case No. 549 of 2021 registered at Gandhi Maidan Police Station, Patna on 22nd November, 2021, against certain officials of the appellant-bank working at its Exhibition Road Branch, Patna for the offences punishable under Sections 34, 37, 120B, 201, 206, 217, 406, 409, 420 and 462 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 is also quashed and set aside qua the appellant-bank ..............................J (B.R. GAVAI) ...........................................J (K.V. VISWANATHAN) NEW DELHI; OCTOBER 22, 2024. 23