Kerala High Court
Sarmananda Pradhan vs State Of Kerala on 4 February, 2025
2025:KER:8634
B.A.10471/2024 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
TUESDAY, THE 4TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025 / 15TH MAGHA, 1946
BAIL APPL. NO. 10471 OF 2024
CRIME NO.380/2023 OF ALUVA EAST POLICE STATION, Ernakulam
AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED 18.09.2024 IN SC NO.1578 OF
2024 OF ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT & MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL,
NORTH PARAVUR
PETITIONERS/ACCUSED 1 TO 3:
1 SARMANANDA PRADHAN,
AGED 38 YEARS,S/O. CHITRA SEN PRADHAN, MALIKASAHI,
BRAHMANPAD, RINGIBARI VILLAGE, CHAKAPADA P.S, KANDHAMAL
DISTRICT, ODISHA, PIN - 762028
2 CHAKDOLA PRADHAN,
AGED 31 YEARS,S/O. PERESWAR, BRAHMANPAD RINGIBARI VILLAGE,
CHAKAPADA P.S, KANDHAMAL DISTRICT, ODISHA, PIN - 762028
3 RAJANI KANTHA MALLICK,
AGED 29 YEARS
S/O. SRIKANTHA MALLICK, RINGIBARI VILLAGE, PASARA,
CHAKAPADA P.S, KANDHAMAL DIST, ODISHA, PIN - 762028
BY ADV AJEESH M UMMER
RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:
STATE OF KERALA,
REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN
- 682031
SMT. SURYA BINOY, SR. PP
THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 29.1.2025,
THE COURT ON 04.02.2025 PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:8634
B.A.10471/2024 2
MOHAMMED NIAS C.P., J.
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Bail Appl. No.10471 of 2024
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Dated this the 4th day of February, 2025
ORDER
This application is filed by accused 1 to 3 in crime No.380/2023 of Aluva East Police Station, Ernakulam, which was registered for the offences punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C), 27A and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, ( the 'NDPS Act' for short).
2. The prosecution case is that, in furtherance of the conspiracy hatched by the accused persons, at about 8.20 a.m., on 22.04.2023, accused Nos.1 to 3 were found in possession of 28.800 kilograms of Ganja in three trolley bags and one shoulder bag and on seeing the police party, the fourth accused escaped from the scene of occurrence near Aluva Railway Station in his vehicle bearing Registration No.KL-40 U 4751 THAR jeep, and thereby committed the aforesaid offences. The petitioners were arrested on the same day, and they have been in judicial detention since then.
3. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and the learned Public Prosecutor for the respondent.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are innocent of all the allegations. It is submitted that a lesser quantity of contraband has been seized from them and the rigour under Section 37 of the NDPS Act will not be attracted.
2025:KER:8634 B.A.10471/2024 3
5. The learned Public Prosecutor opposes the prayer sought by the petitioners.
6. The earlier bail application of the 1st petitioner, B.A. No.8660/2023, was dismissed by this Court, by order dated 30.10.2023, taking note of the prosecution case that accused 1 to 3 were found in possession of 28.800 kgs of ganja in three trolley bags and one shoulder bag. It was also noted that the petitioners are not natives of Kerala and that the 8th and 9th accused are yet to be arrested. Further, the bail application of the 4th accused was considered and dismissed by this Court by order dated 11.10.2023 in B.A. 7949/2023.
7. The learned counsel for the petitioners argues that the sampling, in the instant case, was done contrary to the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (Seizure, Storage, Sampling and Disposal) Rules, 2022, in particular Rues 3 and 10 thereof. It is argued that the contrabands were mixed together and weighed only to make it appear as commercial quantity It has to be straight away noticed that these contentions cannot be considered at the stage of bail and can best be determined in the trial. The contentions of the petitioner in that regard are kept open.
8. As far as the grant of bail to the petitioners is concerned, as stated above, the earlier applications were rejected. There is absolutely no change in circumstances to grant bail in the instant case, taking note of the rigour placed under Section 37 of the NDPS Act. It is also to be noticed that the prosecution, in the instant case, alleged that the petitioners along with other accused conspired together to 2025:KER:8634 B.A.10471/2024 4 commit the offence and brought the contraband from other States in commercial quantity. As held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the decision reported in Narcotics Control Bureau v. Kashif [2024 KHC OnLine 6759], only after this Court considers the mandatory requirements under Section 37 which are to be strictly followed, that a bail can be granted under the provisions of the NDPS Act. The provisions of the Act also should be interpreted keeping in mind the object, purpose and impact of the society as a whole and has to be interpreted literally and not liberally to avoid frustrating its purpose. I do not find any merit in the bail application. The same is accordingly dismissed.
Sd/-
MOHAMMED NIAS C.P. JUDGE okb/ 2025:KER:8634 B.A.10471/2024 5 APPENDIX OF BAIL APPL. 10471/2024 PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure 1 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN HON'BLE COURT OF ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS COURT AT NORTH PARAVUR AS CRL MP 2423/2024 IN SC 1578/2024 WAS DISMISSED BY THE LOWER COURT ON 18.09.2024 Annexure 2 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN BA 8660/2023 DATED 30.10.2023 OF THIS COURT Annexure 3 TRUE COPY OF THE THE SEIZURE MAHAZER DATED 22.04.2023