The Gauhati High Court allowed the bail application of the petitioner arrested for possession of rice suspected to be smuggled or stolen. The court held further custodial detention was unnecessary for investigation.
Petitioner released on bail on furnishing bond of Rs.50,000/- with two sureties of like amount.
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GAHC010115462023
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : Bail Appln./1872/2023
ABUL KALAM AZAD
S/O- LATE ABDUL JABBAR, R/O- VILL- JORSHIMULI, P.S. CHHAYGAON, DIST.- KAMRUP, ASSAM
VERSUS
THE STATE OF ASSAM REP. BY THE P.P., ASSAM
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR H R A CHOUDHURY
Advocate for the Respondent : PP, ASSAM
BEFORE
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MANASH RANJAN PATHAK
ORDER
16-06-2023
Heard Mr. HRA Choudhury, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Ms. R. Deka, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. M. P. Goswami, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Assam for the State.
By this application under Section 439 CrPC, the petitioner, namely, Abul Kalam Azad is seeking bail in Chhaygaon P.S. Case No.235/2023 registered under Sections 379/411 IPC, wherein, he was arrested on 15.05.2023 and since then, he is in custody.
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As per the FIR of the case lodged by the informant on 16.05.2023 before the officer-incharge of Chhaygaon Police Station stating that on the basis of specific information 460 bags of rice containing approximately 49 Kgs. each recovered from the Godown of the petitioner at Jorshimuli and it was suspected that the petitioner collected those rice from smuggler or stolen rice.
Perused the case diary produced before the Court today, by Mr. M. P. Goswami, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Assam.
Mr. Goswami, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Assam from the case diary submitted that there is no such finding till date as to whether, the rice that were recovered from the godown of the petitioner was PDS rice/mid-day-meal rice or other public distribution rice. However, Mr. Goswami submitted that the petitioner failed to place any relevant documents as to whether, from where he procured those rice stored in his godown.
It is also submitted by the petitioner that those 460 bags of rice has already been seized by police and the godown of the petitioner has also been seized.
Considering the materials in the case diary and the period of detention of the petitioner in custody since 15.05.2023, the Court is of the view that further custodial detention of the petitioner is not warranted to investigate said Chhaygaon P.S. Case No.235/2023 . As such, this bail application of the petitioner is accepted.
Accordingly, the petitioner, namely, Abul Kalam Azad , be released on bail in said Chhaygaon P.S. Case No.235/2023 , on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.50,000/-, with 2 (two) local sureties of the like amount, to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup, Amingaon, on conditions that the petitioner shall – (i) appear before the Investigating Officer of said Chhaygaon P.S. Case No.235/2023 , as and when he is required for necessary investigation of the case; (ii) not leave the territorial jurisdiction of the Chhaygaon Police Station, without obtaining prior written permission from the concerned Investigating Officer of the case; (iii) not hamper with the investigation, or tamper with the evidence of the case and (iv) he shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer, failing which, the bail granted to him
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in the aforesaid Chhaygaon P.S. Case No.235/2023 shall stand automatically vacated.
Return the case diary herewith.
Bail application accordingly stands allowed to the extent above.
JUDGE
Comparing Assistant
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the petitioner is entitled to bail in the case alleging possession of smuggled or stolen rice.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
Abul Kalam Azad
The State of Assam Rep. By the P.P., Assam
Manash Ranjan Pathak
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
