M. Kannagi v. The State Of Telangana

HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE P. KESHAVA RAO CRIMINAL REVISION CASE No.418 of 2020 ORDER:

The present Criminal Revision Case is filed under Sections 397 and 401 Cr.P.C. questioning the order, dated 24.07.2020 passed in Crl.M.P.No.394 of 2020 in Crime No.105 of 2020 on the file of the Special Sessions Judge for the Trial of Cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act-cum-I-Additional Sessions Judge at Khammam.

2.

The facts in issue are that the petitioner is the owner of the Toyota Innova Crista Car bearing No.KA 53 MF 6717 and the said vehicle was seized in Crime No.105 of 2020 of Enkoor Police Station, which was registered for the offences punishable under Section 8(c) read with Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the N.D.P.S.Act., 1985, and the said vehicle was kept in the police station. During the pendency of investigation, the petitioner, claiming to be the owner of the said vehicle, filed Crl.M.P.No.394 of 2020 before the Special Sessions Judge for the Trial of Cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act-cum-I-Additional Sessions Judge at Khammam, seeking interim custody of the vehicle. By an order, dated 24.07.2020, the learned Judge rejected the application. Challenging the same the present revision is filed.

3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is every possibility of the vehicle getting damaged, if it is kept exposed to air,

sun and rain at the premises of Police Station and hence seeks interim custody of the vehicle.

4.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor though opposed the revision, did not dispute the ownership of the vehicle. 5.

In Surenderbhai Ambalal Desai v. State of Gujarat1, the Apex Court has laid down that in case of vehicles seized during investigation, they should not be allowed to deteriorate by being kept unused and unattended in the premises of the Police Stations. Therefore, the vehicles have to be entrusted to the interim custody of the petitioner subject to appropriate conditions. 6.

Since there is no dispute with regard to the ownership of the vehicle and having regard to the principles of law laid down by the Apex Court in the decision stated supra, I am inclined to grant interim custody of Toyota Innova Crista Car bearing No.KA 53 MF 6717, which was seized in Crime No.105 of 2020 of Enkoor Police Station, in favour of the petitioner on the following terms. i) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for Rs.10,00,000/- (Rupees ten lakhs only) with one surety for a like sum to the satisfaction of the Special Sessions Judge for the Trial of Cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act-cumI-Additional Sessions Judge at Khammam.

ii) The petitioner shall deposit the original Registration Certificate of the vehicle in the Court. However, the trial Court shall issue a certified copy of the registration 1 (2002) 10 SCC 283

certificate to the petitioner so that no inconvenience is caused to him while using the vehicle.

iii) The petitioner shall give an undertaking to produce the vehicle as and when required either before the Investigating Agency or the Court and also give an undertaking that he will not alienate, encumber or alter the physical features of the vehicle.

7.

Accordingly, the Criminal Revision Case is disposed of. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________ JUSTICE P. KESHAVA RAO Date: 21.09.2020 CCM