Ganeshkumar v. State By,

SUNDER MOHAN, J.

The petitioner/Accused, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offence punishable under Sections 303(2) and 326(a) of BNS, 2023 in Crime No.227 of 2024, on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that when the respondent and team were on their routine patrol duty, they found that the petitioner along with other accused were illegally transporting four units of river sand in a Tipper Lorry bearing Registration No.TN-73-L-5665. Hence the case.

3. The learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that the petitioner is ready to abide by any other stringent conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prayed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for the respondent Police, while opposing the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, would submit the accused had illegally transported four units of river sand. He would further submit that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner.

5. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the respondent Police and perused the materials available on record.

6. In respect of grant or refusal of anticipatory bail to the persons indulging in illegal sand mining, smuggling and theft of sand and minerals, the Apex Court in S.Mohamed Shahul Hameed Vs. State rep. by the Inspector of Police (Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No.6029 of 2020 dated 11.12.2020), while expressing disagreement with the sweep observation made by this Court on the aspect of continuous misuse of discretionary power by the offenders and the enforcers as well in an organised manner, has clarified that in consideration of anticipatory bail,

the role assigned to a person would have to be considered.

7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and the sand involved is small quantity and that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. However, in order to curb illegal sand mining activities and taking into consideration the voluntary submission made by the petitioner offering to deposit a considerable amount to any charitable organization or association, this Court is of the opinion that as one of the conditions for grant of anticipatory bail, the petitioner may be directed to deposit a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) to the credit of District Legal Services Authority, Vellore District, without prejudice to his rights and contentions before the trial Court.

8. It is made clear that merely because the petitioner is depositing the amount, it would not amount to the petitioner admitting his guilt in the criminal case and such amount is being paid without prejudice to the right of the petitioner.

9. Accordingly, the petitioner shall make a non refundable deposit of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) by way of Demand Draft/RTGS/NEFT to the credit of the District Legal Services Authority, Vellore District, and on such deposit and on receipt of proof of payment, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Katpadi, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.

[b] the Petitioner shall report before the respondent police everyday at 10.30 a.m., until further orders;

[c] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [d] the Petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

[e] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the Petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the Petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560];

[f] If the accused thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS.

29.11.2024 mac SUNDER MOHAN, J.

mac 29.11.2024