SANDEEP SINGH Vs. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Applicant has preferred this bail application under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C. for grant of anticipatory bail as he apprehends his arrest in connection with Crime No. 225 of 2015, registered in Police Station Dongargan, District Rajnandgaon (CG), for offence punishable under Section 3 & 7 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

(2.) The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 7-8-2015 one tanker bearing registration No. MH 04 JC 8619, owned by present applicant and driven by Santosh Kumar Kaushal, was carrying kerosene, colour of which is altered by adding some chemicals which is a petroleum product for the purpose of sale and on being checked by the authorities, the driver of the said vehicle was unable to produce valid and relevant papers and thereby committed the aforesaid offence.

(3.) Learned counsel appearing for the applicant would submit that the applicant has not committed any offence and has been falsely implicated in the case. He would further submit that the applicant is the owner of the tanker bearing registration No. MH 04 JC 8619 and on 15-6-2015, the applicant had given his aforesaid tanker to driver Santosh Kumar Kaushal on hire for Rs.25,000/- per month and a copy of the agreement between the present applicant and the driver in this connection was annexed as Annexure A/2. He would further submit that the health condition of the applicant was not good when the incident took place and in this connection medical report of the applicant has been filed. He would also submit that challan has already been filed and the applicant is ready to abide all the directions and conditions which may be imposed on him while granting bail and he will not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and will cooperate with the investigating agency, therefore, the benefit of Section 438 of Cr.P.C., may be extended to the present applicant.