G.Pradeep Nair vs State Of Kerala

Dr Kauser Edappagath, J

This application is filed u/s 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking regular bail.

The applicants are the accused Nos. 1 and 2 in O.R. No. 2/2023 of Kodumpuzha Forest Station. The offences alleged are punishable under Sections 2(16), 2(3C), 9, 39(1)(a)(b)(d), 39(3(a)(b)(c), 50, 51(1) and 57 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The prosecution case, in short, is that on 28.06.2023 at about 3.05 p.m., the Sub Inspector of Police, Kondotty Police Station and party conducted a search at room No. 103 of S.I. City Lodge, Kondotty where the applicants along with accused No.3 were staying and on search, a flask was seen kept on a table and on opening it, 30 ml of snake venom was seen wrapped in a condom and thereby committed the offences.

I have heard Sri. Nireesh Mathew, the learned counsel for the applicants and Sri. Renjith George, the learned Senior Public Prosecutor. Perused the case diary.

The learned counsel for the applicants submitted that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. The counsel further submitted that no materials are on record to connect the applicants with the alleged crime; hence, they are entitled to get bail. On the other hand, the learned Public Prosecutor submitted that the alleged incident occurred as a part of the intentional criminal acts of the applicants, and they are not entitled to bail at this stage.

The applicants were remanded to judicial custody on 28.06.2023. The investigation is almost over. The recovery has already been effected. The applicants have no criminal antecedents. For all these reasons, I do not find any reason to hold that the continued detention of the applicants is required for any purpose. Hence, the applicants are entitled to be released on bail.

In the result, the application is allowed on the following conditions: -

(i) The applicants shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh only) each with two solvent sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Magistrate/Court.

(ii) The applicants shall fully co-operate with the investigation.

(iii) The applicants shall appear before the investigating officer between 10.00 a.m and 11.00 a.m every Saturday until further orders. They shall also appear before the investigating officer as and when required.

(iv) The applicants shall not commit any offence of a like nature while on bail.

(v) The applicants shall not attempt to contact any of the prosecution witnesses, directly or through any other person, or in any other way try to tamper with the evidence or influence any witnesses or other persons related to the investigation.

(vi) The applicants shall not leave the State of Kerala without the permission of the trial Court.

(vii) The application, if any, for deletion/modification of the bail conditions or cancellation of bail on the grounds of violating the bail conditions shall be filed at the jurisdictional court.