IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
Bail Appl No. 4416 of 2007()
1. N.SULOCHANA, AGED 39 YEARS,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. STATE-REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
... Respondent
2. EXCISE RANGE OFFICER,
For Petitioner :SRI.M.SASINDRAN
For Respondent :PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
The Hon'ble MR. Justice R.BASANT
Dated :20/07/2007
O R D E R
R. BASANT, J.
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B.A.No. 4416 of 2007
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Dated this the 20th day of July, 2007
O R D E R
Application for anticipatory bail. The petitioner, a woman, was
allegedly found to be in possession of 5 litres of arrack on 6.2.2006.
The party of the detecting officials did not have a lady officer and
therefore the petitioner was not arrested. The petitioner apprehends
imminent arrest. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
the petitioner is absolutely innocent. The petitioner’s daughter is
alone in the house. All these circumstances may be taken into
consideration and anticipatory bail may be granted to the petitioner,
submits the counsel.
2. The learned Prosecutor opposes the application. In the
wake of opposition by the Public Prosecutor even regular bail can be
granted to the petitioner only if this court is in a position to entertain
both the satisfactions contemplated under Section 41A of the Kerala
Abkari Act. In the facts and circumstances of this case, I am unable
to entertain either of those satisfactions. I am convinced that this is
not a fit case where the extra ordinary equitable discretion under
B.A.No. 4416 of 2007
2
Section 438 Cr.P.C. can or deserves to be invoked in favour of the
petitioner. The petitioner must appear before the Investigator or the
learned Magistrate having jurisdiction and then seek regular bail in the
ordinary course.
5. This application is hence dismissed. Needless to say, if the
petitioner surrenders before the Investigating Officer or the learned
Magistrate having jurisdiction and applies for regular bail after giving
sufficient prior notice to the Prosecutor in charge of the case, the learned
Magistrate must proceed to pass orders on merits, in accordance with law
and expeditiously.
(R. BASANT)
Judge
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