GEORGE Vs. STATION HOUSE OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONER is the registered owner of a tipper lorry bearing Registration No.KL7/K-8946. He has approached this Court complaining of harassment by the police officers in connection with Crime No.357/2012 of Kothamangalam Police Station.

(2.) BRIEFLY put, the case of the petitioner is as follows: Crime No.357/2012 of Kothamangalam Police Station was registered for offences punishable under Section 17(4) read with Section 20 of Kerala Protection of River Banks and Regulation of Sand Act, 2001 and 229 of the Kerala Protection of River banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Rules, 2002 and Section 34 I.P.C. It is alleged that the crime was registered by the first respondent under orders of the 2nd respondent. The said crime was registered on the strength of the alleged confession of Remesan who was the accused in the above case. The alleged confession statement and the First Information Statement show that the vehicle involved in the offence is tipper lorry bearing Registration No.KL7/8146. The petitioner is not having anything to do with tipper lorry No.KL7/8146 and he is the registered owner of tipper lorry bearing Reg.No.KL7/K-8946. According to the petitioner, he has not given it on hire to 1st accused Ramesan or to anybody else for transporting river sand either with pass or without pass. Based on the confession statement that the petitioner has approached this Court.

(3.) WE dispose of this writ petition giving liberty to the police officers to proceed with the investigation in accordance with law. There will be no harassment otherwise.