Panjalai v. State By

Dr.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.

While considering the revision petition filed by the vehicle owner being aggrieved by the dismissal of his petition under Section 451 of Cr.P.C., for return of vehicle involved in theft of mines and minerals, this Court has directed the Director General of Police to furnish details about the cases pending were the vehicles are seized and pending confiscation proceedings.

2.

For the said query, the Assistant Inspector General of Police has filed report wherein the statistic sought is answered as below:- i How may cases are pending under this Act without filing the charge sheet :

17723 ii In how many cases, the vehicles are either kept under the custody of the Police or in the Court premises :

10765 iii In how many cases, confiscation proceedings have been initiated and completed :

iv In how many cases, vehicles interim custody have been given :

It is also in the said report undertaking has been given as suitable instruction will be issued to the Commissioners of Police/ Superintendents of Police to take necessary action to initiate confiscation

proceedings in the pending matter as expeditious as possible. 3.

The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) submitted that the Government has also issued G.O.(Ms).No.170 Industries (MMC.2) Department dated 05.08.2020, reiterating the powers of the Police to confiscate the vehicles involved in the mines theft in compliance of the directions issued by the Hon'ble Division Bench of the Madras High Court, Madurai Bench and the police officials are instructed by the Director General of Police to take effective steps for confiscating.

4.

Recording the statistic submitted by the Assistant Inspector General of Police and the submission made by the learned Government Advocate, no further order is required, except instruction to the respondent police to take confiscation proceedings where the vehicles are involved in the mines theft.

17.03.2023 rts

Dr.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.

rts 17.03.2023