Sheeja vs State Of Kerala

Petitioner claims to be the owner of a vehicle bearing Registration No.KL-23-D-2988. The vehicle was seized by the Police alleging violation of the

provisions of the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2015 and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. After seizure,

the petitioner's vehicle was produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Karunagappally. On the basis of an application submitted by the

petitioner under Section 457 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the learned Magistrate issued Annexure-A1 order directing release of the vehicle,

subject to conditions. The petitioner complied with the conditions and the vehicle was released.

This Crl.M.C is filed aggrieved by condition No.5(f)in Annexure-A1 order, directing the original documents produced before the court to be retained

in court custody and to issue true certified copies of those documents to the petitioner. Annexure A2 is a similar order passed by this Court whereby,

conditions akin to condition No.5(f) in Annexure-A1 were modified.

On the facts of this case and in view of the earlier order passed by this Court under similar circumstances, I am inclined to grant the relief sought.

In the result, condition No.5(f) in Annexure- A1 is modified as follows:- The petitioner shall submit an affidavit undertaking to produce the original

documents of the vehicle bearing registration No.KL-23-D-2988 as and when required by the court. On submission of such affidavit, the original

documents of the vehicle kept in the safe custody of the court shall be released to the petitioner, after substituting those documents with certified

copies.

The Crl.M.C is allowed as above.