UMA Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by the petitioner for a writ of Habeas Corpus to direct release of her husband, Ramesh (hereinafter referred to as the detenu) who is detained as per an order dated 20.2.2010 passed by the second respondent under Section 3 of the Kerala Anti Social Activities (Prevention) Act (hereinafter referred to as the KAAPA).

(2.) The impugned order of detention (Ext.P1) was passed by the second respondent on the basis of a report (Ext.P4) submitted by the third respondent to the second respondent under Section 3(1) of the KAAPA. The second respondent in turn had received Ext.P5 report from his subordinate requesting him to initiate action under the KAAPA against the detenu. In execution of Ext.P1 order, the detenu was arrested on 22.2.2010. Order of approval (Ext.P6) under Section 3(3) of the KAPPA and the order of confirmation (Ext.P9) under Section 10(4) of the KAAPA have already been passed. The detenu thus continues in custody from 22.2.2010 and the period of detention authorised under Ext.P9 obliges him to continue in custody till 22.8.2010.

(3.) The detenu is proceeded against on the allegation that he is a known goonda. He is allegedly an abkari offender - a boot-legger. Reliance is placed, inter alia, on six crimes by the sponsoring and detaining authority. Tabular column given below gives the details of all the six cases which, inter alia, have been registered against the detenu. <p><table class = tablestyle width="87%" border=1 align="center" cellpadding=1 cellspacing=1> <tr> <td width=56 valign=top> <div align="center"><strong><font face="Verdana">Sl.No. </font></strong></div></td> <td width=258 valign=top><div align="center"><strong><font face="Verdana"> PoliceStation and Crime No. </font></strong></div></td> <td width=179 valign=top><div align="center"><strong><font face="Verdana"> Dateof Registration </font></strong></div></td> <td width=142 valign=top><div align="center"><strong><font face="Verdana"> Seizure</JSPARA> </font></strong></div></td> <td width=187 valign=top><div align="center"><strong><font face="Verdana"> Date of final report </font></strong></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=56 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 1.</JSPARA> </font></div></td> <td width=258 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Cr.No.382/2009 - Town South Police Station, Palakkad Under Section 55(a) of the Abkari Act,Ramesh included in the array of accused on 10.12.1999 and report submitted toJFMC, Palakkad. </font></td> <td width=179 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 30.7.2009 </font></div></td> <td width=142 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> 14cans of spirit 35 litres each (about 490 litres worth Rs. 98,000/- concealedin the vehicle. </font></td> <td width=187 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Casecharge sheeted on 18.01.10 before JFMC III, Palakkad (Ramesh arrested on 5.1.2010) </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=56 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 2.</JSPARA> </font></div></td> <td width=258 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Cr.No. 491/09-Town North P.S. Palakkad Under Section 55(a)of Abkari Act </font></td> <td width=179 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 20.10.2009 </font></div></td> <td width=142 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> 25cans of illicit spirit containing 32 litres each concealed in vehicle. </font></td> <td width=187 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Ramesharrested on 31.1.2010 </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=56 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 3.</JSPARA> </font></div></td> <td width=258 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Cr.No. 181/06-Walayar P.S.Palakkad -Abkari Act during the course of investigation Sections 61, 63 of Abkari Actand Section 120B of I.P.C. added) </font></td> <td width=179 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 30.7.2006 </font></div></td> <td width=142 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> 350cans of spirit 35 litres each (total 12250 litres) </font></td> <td width=187 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Chargesheeted on 8.1.2010.(Ramesh formally arrested on 6.8.2008) </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=56 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 4.</font></div></td> <td width=258 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Cr. No.263/06 - Under Section 55(a) of Abkari Act (i)Cr.No. 3/08 of Excise Dept. Under Section 55(a) of Abkari Act in connection with thesame incident (ii)Cr.No. 26/08 Under Section 407, 420, 120B r.w. 34 I.P.C. on </font></td> <td width=179 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 1.10.2006 </font></div></td> <td width=142 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> 340cans of spirit, 35 litres each (total 11900) </font></td> <td width=187 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Chargesheeted on 28.10.2008. Formally arrested on 31.7.2008. Chargesheet on 18.2.2010 </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=56 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 5.</font></div></td> <td width=258 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> thecomplaint of Assist Sales Manager, Malabar Cements, (during the course ofinvestigation S.55 (a) of the Abkari Act added) (Both investigated by C.I. ofPolice under supervision of S.P.Palakkad members of Special InvestigatingUnit under direct control of Illicit Spirit Movement Investigation Team(ISISMIT) (Ramesh included in the array of accused on 25.4.2008 </font></td> <td width=179 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 24.1.2008 </font></div></td> <td width=142 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> 8540litres of spirit </font></td> <td width=187 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Ramesharrested on 16.7.2010 </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=56 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 6.</font></div></td> <td width=258 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Cr. No. 663/07 Under Section 8(1)(2)r/w. Section 55(a) of Abkari Act (Ramesh included in the array of accused on 5.6.2008. </font></td> <td width=179 valign=top><div align="center"><font face="Verdana"> 19.9.2007 </font></div></td> <td width=142 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> 8925litres of spirit kept in 255 cans each containing 35 litres concealed undercement bags in lorry. </font></td> <td width=187 valign=top><font face="Verdana"> Chargesheet on 18.2.2010 Formallyarrested on 30.7.2008 </font></td> </tr> </TABle>