Kerala High Court
Kuttappan vs State Of Kerala on 14 May, 2024
B.A.2642/24 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
TUESDAY, THE 14TH DAY OF MAY 2024 / 24TH VAISAKHA, 1946
BAIL APPL. NO. 2642 OF 2024
CRIME NO.107/2019 OF Sasthamcottah Excise Range Office, Kollam
AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED 22.03.2024 IN SC NO.490 OF 2020
OF ASSISTANT SESSIONS COURT/SUB COURT/COMMERCIAL COURT,
KARUNAGAPPALLY
PETITIONER/S:
KUTTAPPAN,
AGED 69 YEARS
S/O CHATHAN,MANIKANDA BHAVANAM, PADINJATTAM KIZHAKKE
MURI, SOORANADU SOUTH VILLAGE, KUNNATHUR TALUK, KOLLAM
DISTRICT, PIN - 690522
BY ADVS.
K.V.ANIL KUMAR
SWAPNA VIJAYAN
RADHIKA S.ANIL
RESPONDENT/S:
STATE OF KERALA,
REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA,
PIN - 682031
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI. RANJITH GEORGE
THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14.05.2024,
THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
B.A.2642/24 2
MOHAMMED NIAS C.P., J
...........................................................
B.A. No.2642 of 2024
.............................................................
Dated this the 14th day of May, 2024
ORDER
This application is filed under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
seeking regular bail.
2. The petitioner is the accused in Crime No.107/2019 of Sasthamcotta Excise
Range Office, Kollam District, for having allegedly committed offences punishable
under Section 55(i) of the Abkari Act.
3. The prosecution allegation is that on 20.8.2019 at 6.30 am, the accused was
found engaged in the illicit retail sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and thereby
committed the offence. The accused was arrested on the same day, enlarged on bail,
and the investigation was later completed. Upon filing the final report before the
Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court, Sasthamcotta, the case was taken on file as
CP 57/2019 and committed to Sessions Court and later made over to the Assistant
Sessions Court, Karunagappally as SC 490/2020. Though summons were issued for
appearance, he remained absent. Accordingly, coercive steps were taken and notice
was issued to the sureties who did not turn up and MC 11/2023 was registered
against them. Thereafter, NBW was issued with a returnable date as 02.03.2024 and
on that date the accused was arrested and produced, and he was remanded to judicial
custody since then.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would say that the
petitioner is totally innocent and has been falsely implicated with ulterior motives. At
any rate, he points out that the petitioner has been in custody since 02.03.2024, and
continued custody of the petitioner is unnecessary.
5. The learned Public Prosecutor opposed the petition and points out that the
petitioner is not entitled to bail.
6. After having considered the submissions of the learned counsel for the
petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor and considering the allegation against
the petitioner, the quantity involved, and the fact that he has been in custody since
02.03.2024, I hold that bail can be granted to the petitioner.
Accordingly, this application is allowed, and the petitioner is granted bail subject to
the following conditions:-
(i) The petitioner shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.50,000/-
(Rupees fifty thousand only) with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the
satisfaction of the jurisdictional court;
(ii) The petitioner shall report before the Investigating Officer as and when directed;
(iii) The petitioner shall not tamper or attempt to tamper with the evidence or
influence or try to influence the witnesses;
(iv) The petitioner shall not be involved in any other crime while on bail;
If any of the conditions are violated, the court concerned will be empowered to take
steps for cancellation of bail as per law.
Sd/-
MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
JUDGE
okb/
APPENDIX OF BAIL APPL. 2642/2024
PETITIONER ANNEXURES
Annexure-A A COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 22.03.2024 IN
CRL.M.P. NO. 161 / 2024 OF THE ASSISTANT
SESSIONS COURT, KARUNAGAPPALLY
