Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN FRIDAY, THE 28TH DAY OF MARCH 2025 / 7TH CHAITHRA, 1947 BAIL APPL. NO. 4150 OF 2025 CRIME NO.12/2025 OF PARAPPANANGADI EXCISE RANGE OFFICE, MALAPPURAM PETITIONER(S): ARJUN AGED 30 YEARS, S/O. VIJAYAKUMAR, NAVANEETHAM HOUSE, ARIYALLUR, TIRURANGADI P.O., MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN - 676 312 BY ADVS. NAVANEETH.N.NATH ABHIRAMI S. ABDUL LATHEEF P.M.
RESPONDENT(S): STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682 031 By adv.: SR PP - NOUSHAD K A THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 28.03.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J.
------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Dated this the 28th day of March, 2025
ORDER
This Bail Application is filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
2. The petitioner is the accused in Crime
No.12/2025 of Parappanangadi Excise Range Office, Malappuram. The above case is registered against the petitioner alleging offence punishable under Section 22(b) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act, 1985.
3. The prosecution case is that, on 12.02.2025, the accused was found in possession of 2.485 grams of Methamphetamine. Hence, it is alleged that the accused committed the offence. The petitioner was arrested on 12.02.2025.
4. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor.
5. The counsel for the petitioner submitted
that the petitioner is in custody from 12.02.2025. The counsel also submitted that the petitioner is ready to abide any condition imposed by this Court, if this Court grants him bail.
6. The Public Prosecutor opposed the bail
application. But, the Public Prosecutor submitted that, as per the report received by him from the Investigating Officer, no criminal antecedents is alleged against the petitioner.
7. This Court considered the contentions of the petitioner and the Public Prosecutor. It is true that the allegations against the petitioner is
serious. But, the contraband seized from the petitioner is an intermediate quantity. If that be the case, the rigour under Section 37 of the NDPS Act is not attracted. Moreover, the petitioner is in
custody from 12.02.2025. Considering the facts
and circumstances of the case and also considering the period of detention, I think, bail can be granted to the petitioner on stringent
conditions. But, I make it clear that, if the petitioner is involved in any similar offence in future, the Investigating Officer is free to file an application before the jurisdictional court to cancel the bail and if such an application is filed, the jurisdictional court is free to pass appropriate orders in it, in accordance with law, even though
this order is passed by this Court.
8. Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that the bail is the rule and the jail is the
exception. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Chidambaram. P v. Directorate of Enforcement [2019 (16) SCALE 870], after
considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception so as to ensure that the accused has the opportunity of securing fair trial.
9. Moreover, in Jalaluddin Khan v. Union of India [2024 KHC 6431], the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that: “21. Before we part with the Judgment, we must mention here that the Special
Court and the High Court did not consider the material in the charge sheet objectively. Perhaps the focus was more on the activities of PFI, and therefore, the appellant's case could not be properly appreciated. When a case is made out for a grant of bail, the Courts should not have any hesitation in granting bail. The allegations of the prosecution may be very serious. But, the duty of the Courts is to consider the case for grant of bail in accordance with the law. "Bail is the rule and jail is an exception" is a settled law. Even in a case like the present case where there are stringent conditions for the grant of bail in the relevant statutes, the same rule holds good with only modification that the bail can be granted if the conditions in the statute are satisfied. The rule also means that once a case is made out for the grant of bail, the Court cannot decline to grant bail. If the Courts start denying bail in deserving cases, it will be a violation of the rights guaranteed under Art.21 of our Constitution.” (underline supplied)
10. In Manish Sisodia v. Directorate of Enforcement [2024 KHC 6426], also the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that:
“53. The Court further observed that, over a period of time, the trial courts and the High Courts have forgotten a very well - settled principle of law that bail is not to be withheld as a punishment. From our experience, we can say that it appears that the trial courts and the High Courts attempt to play safe in matters of grant of bail. The principle that bail is a rule and refusal is an exception is, at times, followed in breach. On account of non - grant of bail even in straight forward open and shut cases, this Court is flooded with huge number of bail petitions thereby adding to the huge pendency. It is high time that the trial courts and the High Courts should recognize the principle that "bail is rule and jail is exception".” Considering the dictum laid down in the
above decisions and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed with the following conditions:
1. Petitioner shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court.
2. The petitioner shall appear before
the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioner shall co-operate with the investigation and 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 him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.
3. Petitioner shall not leave India without permission of the jurisdictional Court.
4. Petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which he is accused, or suspected, of the commission of which he is suspected.
5. The observations and findings in this
order is only for the purpose of
deciding this bail application. The principle laid down by this Court in Anzar Azeez v. State of Kerala [2025 SCC OnLine KER 1260] is applicable in this case also.
6. If any of the above conditions are
violated by the petitioner, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance with law, even though the bail is granted by this Court. The prosecution is at liberty to approach the jurisdictional court to cancel the bail, if there is any violation of the above condition. Sd/- P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN nvj JUDGE