SENTU SEKH and KAJOL SEKH v. STATE OF KERALA

``` 2025:KER:30280 ``` **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** # **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** # **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN ``` ``` TUESDAY, THE 8[TH] DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 18TH CHAITHRA, 1947 ``` # **`BAIL APPL. NO. 4864 OF 2025`** ``` CRIME NO.498/2025 OF WEST CIRCLE POLICE STATION, THRISSUR, ``` ## **`THRISSUR`** ## **`PETITIONERS/ACCUSED:`** - **`1 SENTU SEKH AGED 32 YEARS, S/O LAKHU SEKH, TEGHARI FARMPARA, RAJPUTH TEGHARI, REGUNATH GANJI, MURSHIDABAD, WEST BENGAL, PIN – 742 149.`** - **`2 KAJOL SEKH AGED 22 YEARS, S/O JABBAR SEKH, KHAMARPARA, KATTAMARI, RANI NAGAR, MURSHIDABAD, WEST BENGAL, PIN – 742 149.`** ``` BY ADVS. VISHNU CHANDRAN MUHAMMED NIYAS K.H. ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:`** ``` STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN – 682 031. ``` ``` BY ADV SEENA C, PP ``` ``` THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` 2025:KER:30280 ``` B.A No.4864 of 2025 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** 2 ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J -------------------------------B.A.No.4864 of 2025** **------------------------------Dated this the 8[th] day of April, 2025** ## **O R D E R** This Bail Application is filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. 2. Petitioners are the accused in Crime No.498 of 2025 of West Circle Police Station, Thrissur. The above case is registered against the petitioners alleging offences punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)B of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short ‘NDPS Act’) - 3.The prosecution case is that the accused - were found in possession of 1.890 Kg of Ganja. 4. Heard counsel for the petitioners and the Public Prosecutor. **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:30280 ``` B.A No.4864 of 2025 3 5. Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are in custody from 04.03.2025. The counsel submitted that the petitioners are ready to abide any conditions, if this Court grants them bail. 6. Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application. But, the Public Prosecutor submitted that as per the report received by him, no criminal antecedent is alleged against the petitioners. The Public Prosecutor submitted that the petitioners are from the State of West Bengal and if they released on bail, they will not be available for trial. At this stage, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are ready to offer local sureties from Thrissur District. The same is recorded. I make it clear that the above submission is not based on a direction from this Court, but the counsel for the petitioners voluntarily submitted it. **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:30280 ``` B.A No.4864 of 2025 4 7. This Court considered the contention of the petitioners and the Public Prosecutor. It is true that allegation against the petitioners is serious. But, the quantity seized is only intermediate quantity. Hence, the rigour under Section 37 of the NDPS Act is not applicable. No criminal antecedent is alleged against the petitioners. The petitioners are in custody from 04.03.2025. In the facts and circumstances of the case, I think the petitioners can be released on bail after imposing stringent conditions. But, I make it clear that, if the petitioners are involved in similar offence in future, the Investigating Officer is free to file appropriate application before the Jurisdictional Court to cancel the bail, and if such an application is filed the Jurisdictional Court can pass appropriate orders, even though this bail order is passed by this Court. 8. Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception. **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:30280 ``` B.A No.4864 of 2025 5 The Hon'ble Supreme Court in **Chidambaram. P v Directorate of Enforcement [2019 (16) SCALE 870],** after considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception so as to ensure that the accused has the opportunity of securing fair trial. 9. Moreover, in **Jalaluddin Khan v. Union of India [2024 KHC 6431]** , the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that: “21. Before we part with the Judgment, we must mention here that the Special Court and the High Court did not consider the material in the charge sheet objectively. Perhaps the focus was more on the activities of PFI, and therefore, the appellant's case could not be properly appreciated. When a case is made out for a grant of bail, the Courts should not have any hesitation in granting bail. The allegations of the prosecution may be very serious. But, the duty of the Courts is to consider the case for grant of bail in **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## `2025:KER:30280` ## B.A No.4864 of 2025 6 accordance with the law. "Bail is the rule and jail is an exception" is a settled law. Even in a case like the present case where there are stringent conditions for the grant of bail in the relevant statutes, the same rule holds good with only modifcation that the bail can be granted if the conditions in the statute are satisfed. The rule also means that once a case is made out for the grant of bail, the Court cannot decline to grant bail. If the Courts start denying bail in deserving cases, it will be a violation of the rights guaranteed under Art.21 of our Constitution.” (underline supplied) ## 10. In **Manish Sisodia v. Directorate of Enforcement [2024 KHC 6426]** , also the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that: “53. The Court further observed that, over a period of time, the trial courts and the High Courts have forgotten a very well - settled principle of law that bail is not to be withheld as a punishment. From our experience, we can say that it appears that the trial courts and the High Courts attempt to play safe in matters of grant of bail. The principle that bail is a rule **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## `2025:KER:30280` ## B.A No.4864 of 2025 7 and refusal is an exception is, at times, followed in breach. On account of non - grant of bail even in straight forward open and shut cases, this Court is flooded with huge number of bail petitions thereby adding to the huge pendency. It is high time that the trial courts and the High Courts should recognize the principle that "bail is rule and jail is exception".” Considering the dictum laid down in the above decision and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed with the following directions: 1. Petitioners shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.2,00,000/- (Rupees Two Lakhs only) with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. The petitioners shall offer local sureties from Thrissur **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## `2025:KER:30280` ## B.A No.4864 of 2025 8 ## District and the same is recorded. 2. The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioners shall co-operate with the investigation and shall not, directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer. 3. Petitioners shall not leave India without permission of the jurisdictional Court. 4. Petitioners shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of ``` 2025:KER:30280 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** B.A No.4864 of 2025 9 which they are accused, or suspected, of the commission of which they are suspected. 5. The observations and findings in this order is only for the purpose of deciding this bail application. The principle laid down by this Court in **Anzar Azeez v. State of Kerala** [2025 SCC OnLine KER 1260] is applicable in this case also. 6. If any of the above conditions are violated by the petitioners, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is granted by this Court. The prosecution and the victim are at liberty to approach the ``` 2025:KER:30280 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** B.A No.4864 of 2025 10 jurisdictional court to cancel the bail, if there is any violation of the above conditions. Sd/- **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE** AMR