Muhammed Shibil K v. State of Kerala

# **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.S.DIAS ``` ``` THURSDAY, THE 11[TH] DAY OF APRIL 2024 / 22ND CHAITHRA, 1946 BAIL APPL. NO. 2911 OF 2024 ``` ``` CRIME NO.14/2024 OF Palakkad Excise Range Office, Palakkad ``` ## **`PETITIONER/ACCUSED:`** ``` MUHAMMED SHIBIL K AGED 24 YEARS ``` ``` SON OF ABDUL SALAM, KOLANI HOUSE, KILIRANI, KARAKURUSSI POST, KARAKURUSSI, PALAKKAD (DIST), PIN - 678595 ``` ``` BY ADVS. V.S.MANSOOR AKHIL BINOY SANIN V.U. ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:`** ``` STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031 ``` ## **`OTHER PRESENT:`** ## **`PP SMT SHYNIMOL V O`** ``` THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11.04.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` B.A.No.2911 of 2024 ## -:2:- Dated this the 11[th] day of April,2024 ## **O R D E R** The application is filed under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, by the sole accused in Crime No.14/2024 of Excise Range Office, Palakkad, registered against him for allegedly committing the offence punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The petitioner was arrested on 24.02.2024. 2. The crux of the prosecution case is that: on 24.02.2024, at around 18.25 hours, the accused was in possession of 7.070 kg of ganga. The accused was arrested then and there at the spot with the contraband article. Thus, the accused has committed the above offence. 3. Heard; Sri. V.S. Mansoor, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Smt. Shynimol.V.O., B.A.No.2911 of 2024 ## -:3:- the learned Public Prosecutor. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is totally innocent of the accusations leveled against him. He has been falsely implicated in the crime. In any given case, the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 24.02.2024, the petitioner has no criminal antecedents, the contraband that was allegedly seized from the accused is of an intermediate quantity, the investigation in the case is practically complete, and the recovery has been effected. Therefore, the petitioner’s further detention is unnecessary. Hence, the application may be allowed. 5. The learned Public Prosecutor opposed the application. She submitted that the investigation in the case is in progress. She also submitted that if the petitioner is let off on bail, there is every likelihood of him committing similar offences. Nonetheless, she did B.A.No.2911 of 2024 ## -:4:- not dispute the fact that the petitioner doesn't have any criminal antecedents and the contraband involved in the case is of an intermediate quantity. 6. After bestowing my anxious consideration to the facts, the rival submissions made across the Bar, and the materials placed on record, especially on considering the fact that the contraband allegedly seized from the accused is of an intermediate quantity, that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents, that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 24.02.2024, that the investigation in the case is practically complete, and that the recovery has been effected, I am of the view that the petitioner’s further detention is unnecessary. Hence, I hold that the petitioner is entitled to be released on bail. In the result, the application is allowed, by directing the petitioner to be released on bail on him executing a bond for Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh B.A.No.2911 of 2024 ## -:5:- only) with two solvent sureties each for the like sum, to the satisfaction of the court having jurisdiction, which shall be subject to the following conditions: (i) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer on every Saturday between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m for a period of two months or till the final report is filed, whichever is earlier. He shall also appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required; (ii) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or procure to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any Police Officer or tamper with the evidence in any manner, whatsoever; (iii) The petitioner shall not commit any offence while he is on bail; B.A.No.2911 of 2024 -:6:- (iv) The petitioner shall surrender his passport, if any, before the court below at the time of execution of the bond. If he has no passport, he shall file an affidavit to the effect before the court below on the date of execution of the bond; (v) In case of violation of any of the conditions mentioned above, the jurisdictional court shall be empowered to consider the application for cancellation of bail, if any filed, and pass orders on the same, in accordance with law. (vi) Applications for deletion/modification of the bail conditions shall be filed and entertained before the court below. (vii) Needless to mention, it would be well within the powers of the Investigating Officer to investigate the matter and, if necessary, to effect recoveries on the information, if any, given by the petitioner even while the petitioner is on bail as laid down by the Hon'ble B.A.No.2911 of 2024 -:7:- Supreme Court in **Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi) and another [2020 (1) KHC 663]** . Sd/- **C.S.DIAS,JUDGE** mtk/11.04.24 ## B.A.No.2911 of 2024 -:8:- ## **`APPENDIX OF BAIL APPL. 2911/2024`** ``` PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure 1A ``` ``` A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED:- 26/03/2024 IN CRL.M.C NO: 1574/2024 OF COURT OF SESSIONS, PALAKKAD DIVISION ```