Parmar Maheshbhai Gautambhai vs State Of Gujarat
2021 Latest Caselaw 603 Guj

       R/SCR.A/216/2021                                JUDGMENT




      IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

     R/SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 216 of 2021

FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE ASHOKKUMAR C. JOSHI

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     Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed
 1                                                                NO
     to see the judgment ?

 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ?                        NO

     Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy
 3                                                                NO
     of the judgment ?
   Whether this case involves a substantial question
 4 of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution            NO
   of India or any order made thereunder ?

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             PARMAR MAHESHBHAI GAUTAMBHAI
                            Versus
                     STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
NIYATI D CHAUHAN(9082) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS MAITHILI MEHTA, APP (2) for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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CORAM: HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE ASHOKKUMAR C. JOSHI

                          Date : 18/01/2021

                          ORAL JUDGMENT

1. The petitioner has filed this petition seeking to invoke extra ordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Articles 19, 21, 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India seeking to release the muddamal vehicle - Honda City car, bearing RTO registration No. GJ-07-R- 9471 in connection with the FIR being C.R. No. III - 347 of 2019,

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registered before the Anand Town Police Station, Dist. Anand for the offence punishable under Sections 65(E), 81, 83, 116B, 99 and 98(2) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act. The petitioner had preferred an application for release of muddamal vehicle before the learned 5th Additional Judicial Magistrate First Class, Anand, which came to be rejected vide order dated 24.09.2020 against which, the petitioner preferred Criminal Revision Application No. 55 of 2020, which came to be dismissed by the learned 5th Additional Sessions Judge, Anand by order dated 23.11.2020 and hence, this petition.

2. Heard learned advocate Ms. Niyati D. Chauhan for the petitioner and learned APP Ms. Maithili Mehta on behalf of the respondent - State through video conference.

2.1 Rule. Learned APP waives service for the respondent - State.

Factual Matrix of the case:

3. As per the allegations made in the FIR, liquor worth Rs.38,400/- was found in the muddamal vehicle. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner is the owner of the muddamal vehicle in question. It is further the case of the petitioner that the learned Courts below have rejected the release of muddamal applications, only because of restriction under Section 98(2) of the Prohibition Act and if the muddamal vehicle would lie at the police station for more time, there will be physical damage to it and therefore, interference of this Hon'ble Court is required in the interest of justice.

3.1 It is contended that the muddamal vehicle was seized by the police as the liquor was found in the muddamal vehicle and

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the offence, as aforesaid, came to be registered.

3.2 It is also contended that the petitioner has purchased the muddamal vehicle with aforesaid registration number. That, at present the said vehicle is lying at the police station in abandoned condition. It is also contended that learned trial Court had rejected the muddamal application and thereafter, the learned Sessions Judge also confirmed the said order and therefore, the present petition is filed with a prayer to set aside the orders passed by the learned Courts below and also prayed for releasing the aforesaid muddamal vehicle.

3.3 The learned advocate for the petitioner time and again vehemently submitted that the Coordinate Bench passed the order in favour of the petitioner in identical cases. Further learned advocate for the petitioner has placed reliance upon the judgments of Coordinate Bench (1) in case of Ritesh Bishmber Agrawal vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 5533 of 2018 order dated 18.01.2019, (2) in case of Ganibhai Yusufbhai Jamroth vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2776 of 2020 order dated 07.07.2020, (3) in case of Ranjitbhai Ishvarbhai Chunara (Vaghela) vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 7631 of 2019 order dated 12.06.2020, (4) in case of Zala Mahendrasinh Kirtisinh vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2717 of 2020 order dated 26.06.2020, (5) in case of Prajapati Rajendrakumar Rameshbhai Vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2692 of 2020 order dated 14.07.2020 and also placed reliance upon the judgment delivered by the Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai Vs. State of Gujarat, AIR 2003 SC 638.

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4. Per contra, learned APP for the respondent - State has vehemently argued that in the present case, the quantity of liquor is huge therefore, if the said muddamal vehicle is released, in that case there are all chances of committing the same offence in future under the Prohibition Act. Therefore, learned trial Court has rightly disallowed the muddamal application. Further, learned APP has also placed reliance upon the judgment passed by this Court in case of Anilkumar Ramlal @ Ramanlaji Mehta Vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2185 of 2018 dated 05.04.2018. Order dated 12.06.2020 passed in Special Criminal Application No. 7631 of 2019, wherein contrary view has been taken in releasing muddamal vehicle involved in the Gujarat Prohibition Act. Learned APP further contended that SLP (Cri.) No. 886 of 2018 is pending before the Hon'ble Apex Court in respect of the said issue, and therefore, no power would be exercised by this Court for releasing the vehicle seized by Police in the prohibition Offence. It is also contended that learned trial Court has rightly disallowed the muddamal application by invoking Section 98(2) of the Prohibition Act and Court below has no jurisdiction to pass order for interim release of muddamal vehicle when trial is pending in connection with offence under the Prohibition Act. Learned APP further urged that in view of Section 98(2) of the latest Prohibition Act, as well as, as per judgment passed by this Court in case of Anilkumar Ramlal @ Ramanlaji Mehta Vs. State of Gujarat (supra), the vehicle used in Prohibition, where quantity is more than 10 liters, cannot be released. Further, learned APP also placed reliance upon judgment of Coordinate Bench dated 15.12.2017 in Special Criminal Application No. 8521 of 2017.

5. Having heard the arguments advanced by both the sides, without determining the other issues raised in reference to

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Sections 98 and 99 and other provisions of the said Act and reserving that to be determined in future in an appropriate proceedings, being a contentious issue, this Court is not inclined to enter into that arena in the present matter and instead, exercise the powers vested under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution.

5.1 In the case of Anilkumar Ramlal @ Ramanlaji Mehta Vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2185 of 2018, by order dated 05.04.2018, this Court has also released the vehicle involved in the Prohibition Act under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution by exercising its powers even at initial stage.

6. Having heard the arguments advanced by both the sides, it would be worthwhile to refer profitably at this stage to the observations made by the Hon'ble Apex Court that within a period of six months from the date of production of the vehicle before concerned Court, needful be done. Further, the Hon'ble Apex Court also went to the extent of directing that where the vehicle is not claimed by the accused, owner, or the Insurance Company or by third person, then such vehicle may be ordered to be auctioned by the Court. If the said vehicle is insured with the insurance company then Insurance Company be informed by the Court to take possession of the vehicle which is not claimed by the owner or a third person. If the Insurance company fails to take possession, the vehicle may be sold as per the direction of the Court. The Court would pass such order within a period of six months from the date of production of such vehicle before the Court. It is also directed that before handing over possession of such vehicle, appropriate photographs of the said vehicle should be taken and a detailed panchnama should also be prepared. The Hon'ble Apex Court also held and specifically directed that the

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concerned Magistrate would take immediate action for seeing that powers under Section 451 of the Code are properly and promptly exercised and articles are not kept for long time at the police station, in any case, for not more than fifteen days to one month. It, therefore, directed that this object can also be achieved if there is proper supervision by the Registry of the concerned High Court in seeing that the Rules framed by the High Court with regard to such articles are implemented properly.

6.1 Learned APP has submitted the report of the IO, which has been taken into consideration by this Court. It is nobody's case that same vehicle is used earlier in any offence and therefore, the petitioner cannot be denied the interim possession of vehicle and on the basis of the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai Vs. State of Gujarat (Supra), this Court is inclined to exercise extraordinary powers under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution. It is observed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai Vs. State of Gujarat (Supra), as under:

"15. Learned Senior Counsel Mr. Dholakia, appearing for the State of Gujarat further submitted that at present in the Police Station premises, number of vehicles are kept unattended and vehicles become junk day by day. It is his contention that appropriate directions should be given to the Magistrates who are dealing with such questions to hand over such vehicles to its owner or to the person from whom the said vehicles are seized by taking appropriate bond and the guarantee for the return of the said vehicles if required by the Court at any point of time.

16. However, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that this question of handing over vehicles to the person from whom it is seized or to its true owner is always a matter of litigation and a lot of arguments are advanced by the concerned persons.

17. In our view, whatever be the situation, it is of no use

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to keep such -seized vehicles at the police stations for a long period. It is for the Magistrate to pass appropriate orders immediately by taking appropriate bond and guarantee as well as security for return of the said vehicles, if required at any point of time. This can be done pending hearing of applications for return of such vehicles."

6.2 This Court has assistance of orders passed by the Coordinate Bench in case of Ritesh Bishmber Agrawal vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 5533 of 2018 order dated 18.01.2019, (2) in case of Ganibhai Yusufbhai Jamroth vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2776 of 2020 order dated 07.07.2020, (3) in case of Ranjitbhai Ishvarbhai Chunara (Vaghela) vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 7631 of 2019 order dated 12.06.2020, (4) in case of Zala Mahendrasinh Kirtisinh vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2717 of 2020 order dated 26.06.2020, (5) in case of Prajapati Rajendrakumar Rameshbhai Vs. State of Gujarat in Special Criminal Application No. 2692 of 2020 order dated 14.07.2020, wherein, muddamal vehicle was used in offences under the Prohibition Act released by this Court at many occasions.

7. Resultantly, in-fleri the petition succeeds and is allowed. The order passed by the learned 5th Additional Sessions Judge, Anand dated 23.11.2020 in Criminal Revision Application No. 55 of 2020, confirming the order dated 24.09.2020 passed by the learned 5th Additional Judicial Magistrate First Class, Anand, is hereby set aside. The authority concerned is directed to release the vehicle of petitioner being Honda City car, bearing RTO registration No. GJ-07-R-9471 on the terms and conditions that the petitioner:

a) shall furnish, by way of security, bond as per valued cited in Panchnama or seizure memo and solvent surety of

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the equivalent amount;

b) shall file an undertaking before the trial Court that prior to alienation or transfer in any mode or manner, prior permission of the concerned Court shall be taken till conclusion of the trial;

c) shall also file an undertaking to produce the vehicle as an when directed by the trial Court;

d) if the IO finds use of vehicle in any illegal activity by the present petitioner then this order shall stand cancelled and the vehicle will be seized;

e) shall appear before the IO, as and when called for and cooperate with the investigating agency.

7.1 Before handing over the possession of the vehicle to the petitioner, necessary photographs shall be taken and a detailed Panchnama in that regard, if not already drawn, shall also be drawn for the purpose of trial.

7.2 If, the IO finds it necessary, VIDEOGRAPHY of the vehicle also shall be done. Expenses towards the photographs and the videography shall be BORNE by the petitioner.

7.3 Prior to release of the muddamal vehicle, the trial Court concerned shall verify the ownership of the same.

8. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is permitted through fax / e-mail / any other electronic mode.

8.1 The Registry is directed to communicate this order by fax / e-mail to the concerned Court and police station.

[ Dr. Ashokkumar C. Joshi, J. ] hiren