Rajan vs State of Kerala

K. Ramakrishnan, J

This is an application filed by the petitioner challenging the order in Crl. M.P. No. 5928/2013 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kunnamangalam in Crime No. 503/2013 of Kunnamangalam police station u/s 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

It is alleged in the petition that the petitioner is the owner of lorry bearing registration No. KL-41-B-3850. The said vehicle has been seized by the 2nd respondent on 28.7.2013 in connection with crime No. 503/2013 of Kunnamangalam police station. The petitioner''s driver and employees are the accused in the above crime. The offences alleged against the accused are punishable u/s 269 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 118(e), 120(e) and 120(a) of the Kerala Police Act. After seizure of the above vehicle, the same has been produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kunnamangalam. The petitioner moved two applications to release the vehicle for interim custody u/s 451 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. But the learned magistrate, without considering the facts and circumstances of the above case, dismissed the above petitions by Annexure Nos. I & II orders. So he has no other remedy except to approach this court for getting release of the vehicle. Hence this petition.

Heard the counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted the vehicle need not be detained in connection with the investigation as the identity of the vehicle is not in dispute. Further keeping the vehicle exposed to sun and rain will only cause damage to the vehicle. So he prayed for granting interim custody of the vehicle and he has also submitted that he is prepared to abide by any condition imposed by this court.

On the other hand the learned Public Prosecutor submitted that the vehicle is being used for similar purpose by the petitioner even earlier and if it is released to him, he is likely to use the vehicle for the same purpose.

It is an admitted fact that the lorry with No. KL-41-B-3850 belonging to the petitioner has been seized by Kunnamangalam police when the septic tank waste and other contaminated things were carried in the vehicle and dumped in the public drainage causing nuisance to the public. The act complained of is dumping the articles in the public drain causing public nuisance and no proceedings has been initiated against the vehicle for that purpose. Further if the vehicle is kept in the police station exposed to sun and rain till the disposal of the case, it will only ruin the vehicle. Further in the decision reported in Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai and C.M. Mudaliar Vs. State of Gujarat, the Hon''ble Supreme Court has held that in cases where the retention of vehicle is not required as part of the investigation or for identification of the same at the time of trial the interim custody of the vehicle can be given to the person who is entitled to get that custody. Further even assuming that the presence of the vehicle is required as mentioned in the above decision, the photographs of the vehicle in different posture can be taken exhibiting the number of the vehicle in the presence of the petitioner, accused and his counsel and after preparing an inventory the vehicle can be released to the owner of the vehicle by imposing some conditions to keep the vehicle intact till the disposal of the case. So there is no necessity to retain the vehicle till the disposal of the case. The apprehension of the learned Public Prosecutor that if the vehicle is released it is likely to be used for similar purpose can be removed by imposing some stringent conditions. So the application is allowed with the following conditions:

The vehicle shall be released to the petitioner on getting a bond for the value of the vehicle as to be assessed by the authorities under the Motor Vehicles Act with two solvent sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Kunnamangalam.

That the investigating officer is directed to take the photographs of the vehicle exhibiting the number of the vehicle in several posture so as to identify the vehicle later during trial in the presence of the accused, their counsel the present petitioner and his counsel and prepare an inventory regarding the description of the vehicle and produce the same before the court along with the photographs taken and that can be treated as evidence regarding the identity of the vehicle at the time of trial.

The petitioner shall not use this vehicle for similar purpose or use the same in such a way to cause nuisance to the public as alleged to have been done in this case and even if the vehicle is intended to be taken such waste it can be done only with necessary licence and permit required to be obtained under any law for the time being in force.

The petitioner shall not transfer, hypothecate or do anything in the vehicle in such a way as to reduce its value and utility pending disposal of this case.

The petitioner shall produce the vehicle before the court concerned as and when required by that court till the disposal of this case and he shall file an undertaking to the above effect in the form of an affidavit and also undertaking to abide by all conditions imposed by this court.

With the above conditions, the application is allowed.