In Brief
The Central Bureau of Investigation challenged a High Court order quashing criminal proceedings against company directors for alleged fraud on Punjab National Bank. The parties had settled their dispute through a Debt Recovery Tribunal consent decree, paid the entire amount due, and resolved all outstanding claims. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision, finding that once civil settlement was complete with full performance and no criminality issue remained, continuing criminal prosecution would constitute an abuse of process. The Court dismissed the CBI's appeal.
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