AJITHKUMAR Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr Sudhi Vasudevan (Senior), assisted by Ms Shilpa Sathish and Mr C A Joseph, learned Counsel for the petitioners, Mr Sreejith V S learned Government Pleader, Mr M G Karthikeyan learned Counsel for the 6th respondent and Mr P N Santhosh for the 3rd respondent.

(2.) The petitioners have filed these two writ petitions, W.P.(C) Nos.31910/2023 and 849/2024, in respect of toddy shop nos. 10, 14, 15, 37 and 38 of Group IV of Mannarkkad Range for the Abkari Year 2019-20 and toddy shop nos. 19, 20, 21, 29 and 34 in Group VI of Mannarkkad Range. W.P.(C) No.8578/2022 is in respect of toddy shop nos. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 25 of Group III in Vadakara Range for the Abkari year 2019-20.

(3.) The petitioner was the licensee of the toddy shops bearing T S nos. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 25 of Group No. III in Vadakara Range for the Abkari Year 2017-18. The license for the aforesaid toddy shops was up to 31/3/2018. Crime Nos.181/2017 and 182/2017 of Vadakara Excise Range were registered against the petitioner and the salesman under Sec. 57(a) of the Abkari Act by the Excise Inspector on the allegation that the sample of toddy taken by the Assistant Excise Inspector on 15/4/2017 from the toddy kept in the said toddy shop no 15/16-17 of Vadakara Excise Range and toddy shop no.25/16-17 on chemical analysis were found to contain starch. The Chemical Analysis report dtd. 13/7/2017 was issued by the Regional Chemical Examiner, Chemical Examination Laboratory, Kozhikode.