SURESH Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Application for regular bail under Section 439 Cr.PC. The applicant is the accused in Crime No.66/2020 of Chalakkudy Excise Range Office, Thrissur for having allegedly committed offences punishable under Section 55(g) of the Abkari Act.

(2.) The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 29.8.2020 at about 3.50 p.m., the applicant was found to be in possession of 600 litres of wash and utensils intended for the purpose of distillation of arrack inside the reserve forest in violation of the provisions of the Kerala Abkari Act. The applicant was arrested in connection with OR No.13/2020 of Konnakkuzhy Forest Station on 29.8.2020. Formal arrest in this crime was recorded on 7.9.2020. The applicant has been in custody since then. The applicant has also got another crime under the Abkari Act against him pending as SC No.624/2020 for offence punishable under Sections 8(1) and (2) of the Abkari Act. The applicant states that he has been in custody for too long a period and therefore, he may be released on bail.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for the applicant and the learned Public Prosecutor.