Rengaraj v. The Inspector Of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 19.08.2021 PRESENT The Hon`ble Mr.Justice B.PUGALENDHI 1.Rengaraj 2.Muruganantham ... Petitioners/Accused Rank Not Known Vs State represented by The Inspector of Police, Jeeyapuram Police Station, Jeeyapuram, Trichy District.

Cr.No.1010 of 2020. ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioners : Mr.K.Arunraj Advocate For Respondent : Mr.P.Kottai Chamy, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.438 of Cr.P.C PRAYER:- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.1010 of 2020 on the file of the Respondent Police.

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioners, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the alleged offences punishable under Section 379 IPC r/w Section 21(1)of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)Act, 1957 in Crime No.1010 of 2020, seek anticipatory bail.

2.The case of the prosecution is that the petitioners have illegally transported half unit of river sand. Therefore, the present case came to be registered.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are innocents and they have been falsely implicated in this case. However, to show their bona fide, the petitioners have come forward to pay a sum of Rs.5,000/-each to the credit of Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

4.The learned Government Advocate(Crl.side) appearing for the respondent police submitted that the petitioners have transported half of river sand illegally. He further submitted that there is one other case pending against the petitioner, which is registered under 1/4

the provisions of Indian Penal Code.

5.Though the petitioners are having bad antecedents, considering the fact that the petitioners in order to show their bona fide, have also come forward to pay a sum of Rs.5,000/-each to the credit of Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners. 6.Accordingly, this criminal original petition is allowed on condition that the petitioners shall pay Rs.5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only)each to the credit of Government of Tamil Nadu, CMPRF in IOB, Secretariat Branch, Chennai-9 (Account No.11720 10000 00070, IFSC Code: IOBA0001172), without prejudice to their rights and contentions before the trial Court and produce the receipt/acknowledgment before the learned (*) The Judicial Magistrate No.III, Trichy.

7.On production of such receipt/acknowledgment, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, before the learned (*) The Judicial Magistrate No.III, Trichy, on condition that the petitioners shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/-(Rupees ten thousand only) each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned and on further conditions that: [a]the petitioners and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity.

[b]the petitioners shall report before respondent police daily at 10.30 am., until further orders.

[c]the petitioners shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [d]the petitioners 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 petitioners in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioners 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 229-A IPC.

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8.It is needless to say that any tool or instrument or vehicle used for illegal quarrying/ transportation of sand is liable to be seized under Section 21(4) of the Mines and Minerals(Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 and any vehicle or instrument or tool which has been seized under Section 21 (4) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957, is liable to be confiscated under Section 21(4-A) of the Act.

9.Though the above provision mandates the authorities to confiscate the tool or instrument or vehicle involved in the commission of the offence of illegal quarrying / transportation of sand, the authorities have not invoked the provision of 21 (4-A) of the Mines and Minerals(Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 and therefore, a Division Bench of this Court in W.P.No.19936 of 2016, etc., batch has emphasised the need for confiscation of the vehicles. Consequently, the Government has also issued certain directions to the authorities of Revenue, Police and Forest and Geology and Mining departments to seize the vehicles and for confiscation of the same in G.O.Ms.No.170, Industries (MMC-2) Department, dated 05.08.2020. Therefore, the respondent police is directed to proceed further as per Section 21 (4-A) of the Mines and Minerals(Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 and as per the guidelines issued in G.O.Ms.No.170, Industries (MMC-2) Department, dated 05.08.2020.

sd/- 19/08/2021 (*) Corrected as per order of this Court dated 23/09/2021 in CRL MP(MD) No.7350/2021 in CRL OP(MD) No.11346/2021.

Further two weeks time is granted, to the petitioner to comply with the conditions imposed by this Court, from the date of receipt of a copy of this order as last chance.

/ TRUE COPY / / /2021 Sub-Assistant Registrar (C.S.) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

Note: In view of the present lock down owing to COVID-19 pandemic, a web copy of the order may be utilized for official purposes, but, ensuring that the copy of the order that is presented is the correct copy, shall be the responsibility of the advocate/litigant concerned.

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TO BE SUBSTITUTED WITH THE ORDER DATED 19/08/2021 ALREADY DESPATCHED.

TO

1. The Judicial Magistrate No.III, Trichy.

2. The District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate II, Trichy.

3.Do-through Chief Judicial Magistrate, Trichy.

4.The Inspector of Police, Jeeyapuram Police Station, Jeeyapuram, Trichy District.

5.The officer incharge, Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund(CMPRF), Secretariat, Chennai-9.

6.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

CRL OP(MD) No.11346 of 2021 19.08.2021 RS/SKN/SAR3 (08.09.2021) 4P 6C USK/SKN/SAR-IV/01.10.2021 : 4P/7C 4/4