N.Chandran v. State Rep By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 22.07.2020

CORAM

THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE P.N. PRAKASH Crl.R.C.No.376 of 2020 N.Chandran ... Petitioner/A-2 Vs.

1.State represented by The Inspector of Police, Uthukuli Police Station, Tiruppur District.

(Crime No.470 of 2019) 2.The Tahsildar, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District.

...

Respondent Criminal Revision filed under Section 397 r/w 401 Cr.P.C. seeking to set aside the order dated 13.02.2020 passed in Crl.M.P.No.174 of 2020 on the file of the District Munsif-cumJudicial Magistrate Court, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District and to release the vehicle bearing registration No.TN 39 CX 3461, Chassis No.MB1G3DYC8EEDM1499 and Engine No.EDEZ400736 as interim custody to the petitioner.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.A.Shanmugam For Respondent : Mr.K.Madhan Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side)

O R D E R

This case is taken up through video conferencing. 2.

This criminal revision has been filed seeking to set aside the order dated 13.02.2020 passed in Crl.M.P.No.174 of 2020 on the file of the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District and to release the vehicle bearing registration No.TN CX 3461, Chassis No.MB1G3DYC8EEDM1499 and Engine No.EDEZ400736 as interim custody to the petitioner.

3.

The petitioner was arrested on 02.10.2019, while transporting three units of sand in his Tipper lorry bearing registration No. TN-39-CX-3461 and a case was registered in Crime No.470 of 2019 for the offence under Section 379 IPC and his vehicle was seized. The petitioner was later released on bail. The petitioner filed Crl.M.P.No.174 of 2019 before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District, under Section 451 Cr.P.C. for interim custody of the vehicle, which was dismissed on 13.02.2020, challenging which, the petitioner filed the present revision petition. 4.

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent State.

5.

It is seen that the seizure was effected on 02.10.2019 and almost for seven months, the vehicle is in the police station open to sun and rain.

6.

Taking into consideration the aforesaid facts and 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 interests 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 vehicle bearing registration No.TN-39-CX-3461 to the petitioner within a period of 7 days from the date of compliance of the below mentioned condition Nos.(i) to (iii) :

* (i) The petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh 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, Tiruppur, as non-refundable deposit;

(ii) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District. 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 Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District; and (vii) The petitioner is also directed to participate in the enquiry to be conducted by the respondent. Petition relating to return of R.C. Book for any purpose in the future, may be filed before the District Munsif-cumJudicial Magistrate, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District, who may consider the same on merits, though this order has been passed by the High Court.

This petition is allowed in the above terms and the order dated 13.02.2020 passed in Crl.M.P.No.174 of 2020 on the file of the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District, is set aside.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS III) dated: 04/08/2020 * Amended as per order of this court dated 24.08.2020 made in Crl.RC. 376 of 2020 SD/- Assistant Registrar( CS III) dated: 03/09/2020 //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar

To 1.The District Munsif-cumJudicial Magistrate, Uthukuli, Tiruppur District.

To be substituted for the order already despatched on 2.The Tahsildar, Uthukuli, 21.08.2020 Tiruppur District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Uthukuli Police Station, Tiruppur District.

4.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Chennai - 600 104.

5.The Section Officer, Criminal Section High Court, Madras.

Crl.R.C.No.376 of 2020 ak[co] srg 14/08/2020 GN(03/09/2020)