Akbar Ali, M/40 v. State Rep. By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 15.12.2016

CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.T. SELVAM Crl.R.C.No.1592 of 2016 Akbar Ali .. Petitioner Vs.

State represented by The Inspector of Police, Vedakkipalayam Police Station, Coimbatore.

Crime No.147 of 2016 ..

Respondent Criminal Revision filed under Section 397 and 401 Cr.P.C. praying to call for the records on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate I, Pollachi, in Crl.M.P.No.4502 of 2016 dated 20.10.2016 and set aside the order dated 20.10.2016 and direct the learned Magistrate to return the Tata SFC 407 Registration No.KL-32-B-5949 to the custody of the petitioner herein.

For Petitioner :

Mr.K.Balasubramaniam For Respondent :

Mr.M.Mohammed Riyaz Govt.Adcvocate (Crl.side)

O R D E R

The petitioner challenges the order of the learned Judicial Magistrate I, Pollachi, made in C.M.P.No.4502 of 2016 dated 20.10.2016, rejecting the petition filed for return of vehicle.

2. The respondent has seized a TATA SFC 407 van bearing Registration No.KL-32-B-5949 belonging to the petitioner in connection with the case registered in Crime No.147 of 2016 on its file for offence under Section 269 IPC. The petitioner has moved C.M.P.No.4502 of 2016 before the learned Judicial Magistrate I, Pollachi, seeking return of the vehicle. Such

petition came to be dismissed under orders of the Court below dated 20.10.2016 and hence, this revision.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would seek to impress upon this Court that a false case stands foisted upon the petitioner.

4. In the circumstances above stated and following the decisions of the Hon'ble Apex Court in Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai v. State of Gujarat (AIR 2003 Supreme Court 638) and General Insurance Council V. State of Andhra Pradesh in 2010 (3) Supreme Pg. 317, this Court directs as follows:

The TATA SFC 407 van bearing Registration No.KL-32-B-5949 shall be placed in the custody of the petitioner after complying with the following:

i)The lower Court shall cause photographs of the vehicle to be taken and record panchanama thereof, the photographs taken shall be read as secondary evidence during trial and production of the vehicle shall be dispensed with.

ii)The vehicle shall then be returned to the petitioner, who shall be at liberty to deal with the same in such manner as considered appropriate.

5. The above order is not determinant of the ownership or other rights in respect of the vehicle.

6. In the result, the Criminal Revision is allowed. The order of the learned Judicial Magistrate I, Pollachi, passed in C.M.P.No.4502 of 2016 dated 20.10.2016 is set aside. Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar kpr To 1.The Judicial Magistrate I, Pollachi.

2.The Inspector of Police, Vedakkipalayam Police Station, Coimbatore.

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Chennai.

+1cc to Mr.K. Balasubramaniam, Advocate, S.R.No.73132 rsk(CO) md(31/01/2017) Crl.R.C.No.1592 of 2016