Singaravelu v. The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 11.06.2020

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH CRL.RC.No.521 of 2020 Singaravelu

...Petitioner

Vs.

State represented by The Inspector of Police, Keevalur Police Station, Nagapattinam District.

(Crime No.62 of 2020) ....Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Revision Petition filed under Section 397 of Cr.P.C., praying to call for the records and set aside the order passed in Crl.M.P.No.681 of 2020 on the file of the District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam in Crime No.62 of 2020 on the file of the respondent dated 24.02.2020 and direct the respondent to release the Tipper with Tractor bearing Registration Nos.TN-51AA-2562, TN-51-AH-9504 and allow this Criminal Revision Petition. For Petitioner : Mr.J.Jawahar For Respondent : Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

This Criminal Revision Petition has been filed against the dismissal of the petition filed by the petitioner seeking for the return of the tractor with tipper.

2.

The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner is the owner of the tractor and this tractor was involved in illegally transporting 1/2 unit of sand. The further case of the prosecution is that petitioner is involved in one more offence in Crime No.62 of 2020.

3.

The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the confiscation proceedings has not commenced and now the tractor is exposed to rain and shine and if the tractor is kept in the police station continuously, it will lose all its worth. The learned counsel further submitted that any stringent conditions can be imposed by this Court and the petitioner will comply with the said conditions.

Per contra, Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent submitted that if the tractor is released, the petitioner will once again involve in the illegal transportation of sand. The learned counsel further submitted that on the same day, the petitioner was involved in offence of similar nature. The learned counsel concluded his arguments by submitting that even though confiscation proceedings have not commenced, this Court has to take a very stringent stand, when it comes to release of the vehicle involved in sand theft, which has a direct impact in the natural resources.

This Court has carefully considered the submissions made on either side and the orders passed by the Court below. The petitioner is the owner of the tractor and according to the petitioner, the tractor now exposed to the open sky in the police station and it will become worthless over a period of time. Admittedly, the confiscation proceedings have not commenced. The petitioner also undertakes that he will not involve in any illegal activity in future and that any stringent conditions can be imposed by this Court.

Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, the order passed by the Court below in Crl.M.P.No.681 of 2020, dated 24.02.2020 is hereby set aside and this Criminal Revision Petition is allowed with the following conditions:

(i) The petitioner shall file an affidavit before the Court below that the tractor will not be used for the illegal transportation of sand in future.

(ii) The petitioner shall deposit the original RC book before the Court below and the Court below shall certify the deposit of the original RC book in the Court and such certificate can be produced by the petitioner if and when he is asked to produce the RC book by the police during any interception.

(iii) The petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) to the District Minerals Foundation Trust and shall produce the said receipt before the Court below.

(iv) The petitioner shall produce the vehicle, as and when required before the Court below.

This order is passed without prejudice to the rights of the respondent to initiate confiscation proceedings against the petitioner.

-s/d- Assistant Registrar True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar ssr To

1. The District and Sessions Judge, Nagapattinam

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

3.The Officer Incharge District Minerals Foundation Trust Nagapattinam

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

CRL.RC.No.521 of 2020 sj(co) aa17/07/2020