Venkatchalam v. State Rep. By Its

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 11.02.2020

CORAM

THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE R. MAHADEVAN Crl.R.C.No.184 of 2020 Venkatchalam ... Petitioner Vs.

State by its Inspector of Police, Vedaranyam Police Station, Nagapattinam District.

Crime No.284/2019.

... Respondent Criminal Revision filed under Sections 397 and 401 of Cr.P.C. seeking to set aside the order dated 22.01.2020 passed by the learned District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam in Crl.M.P.No.224 of 2020.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.M.Subramaniam For Respondent : Mr.K. Prabakar, Addl. Public Prosecutor.

O R D E R

This criminal revision has been filed seeking to set aside the order dated 22.01.2020 passed by the learned District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam in Crl.M.P.No.224 of 2020. 2.During regular rounds, the Sub-Inspector of Police of the respondent Police Station intercepted the Mahindra 475 DI Tractor and Tipper bearing Reg.No.TN-51-E-1563, belonging to the petitioner, carrying 1 unit of river sand, arrested the driver, seized the vehicle and registered a case in Crime No.284 of 2019 under Section 379 IPC read with Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957. Seeking return of the vehicle, the petitioner, being the owner filed Crl.M.P.No.224 of 2020 under Section 451 Cr.P.C. before the District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam and the said petition was dismissed by order dated 22.01.2020. Challenging the same, the present petition has been filed.

3.Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent State.

4.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that there is no previous case against the petitioner nor this vehicle involved in any other case earlier.

5.Though the reasons given by the trial Court in dismissing the petition cannot be faulted, yet, this Court is of the view that if the vehicle remains in the custody of the police indefinitely, it will get deteriorated.

6.In view of the guidelines given by the Supreme Court in Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai Vs. State of Gujarat [(2002) 10 SCC 290], this Court is of the view that interest of justice will be served, if the vehicle is ordered to be released to the petitioner on certain stringent conditions. The respondent police is directed to grant interim custody of the said Mahindra 475 DI Tractor cum Tipper bearing Reg.No.TN-51-E-1563 to the petitioner within a period of 7 days from the date of compliance of the below mentioned conditions:

i. the petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.75,000/- (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand only) before the jurisdictional Tahsildar as non-refundable deposit. After receipt of the above said amount, the same will have to be deposited by the Tahsildar, to the credit of the District Mines and Minerals Foundation trust as non-refundable deposit;

ii.the petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam. The petitioner and the sureties shall affix their photographs and give the copies of their Aadhaar Card;

iii.the petitioner shall give an undertaking before the respondent/ authority concerned stating that he will not use the vehicle in question for any illegal activities in future and shall produce the same as and when required by the respondent and also the trial Court, failing which the respondent/trial Court is at liberty to confiscate the vehicle; iv.the petitioner shall not alienate the vehicle in question till the disposal of the proceedings before the authority concerned;

v. the petitioner shall take photograph of the vehicle and submit the same along with Compact Disc duly certified under Section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872;

vi.the petitioner shall surrender the original R.C. book before the District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam; and vii.the petitioner is also directed to participate in the enquiry to be conducted by the respondent. viii. It is also made clear that after release of the vehicle on complying with the conditions imposed by this court, if the said vehicle is found to be involved in any of the offence, it is always open to the respondent to proceed further for confiscation.

ix. Petition relating to return of R.C. Book for any purpose in the future, may be filed before the District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam, who may consider the same on merits.

6.This petition is allowed in the above terms. s/d- Assistant Registrar(CS-III) True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar To

1. The District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam.

2.The Inspector of Police, Vedaranyam Police Station, Nagapattinam District.

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

+1 CC to Mr.K.M.Subramaniam, Advocate sr 10699 Crl.R.C.No.184 of 2020 RK(CO) SP(12/02/2020)