SOJAN.V.S Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This application is filed under Sec. 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, BNSS), seeking pre-arrest bail.

(2.) The applicant is the accused No.10 in O.R. No.1/2025 of Singappara Forest Station, Palakkad District. The offences alleged are punishable under Ss. 2(1), 2(2), 2(11), 2(12A), 2(14), 2(16(a)(c)), 2(25B), 2(31)(b), 2(35), 2(36), 9, 39(1)(b), (d), 50, 51 and 52 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 (Amendment Act 2022) and 27(1)(e)(iv) of the Kerala Forest Act, 1961 (Amendment Act 2010).

(3.) The prosecution case, in short, is that on 16/1/2025, accused Nos.1 and 2 illegally trespassed into the Government forest area within the limits of Palakkayam Forest Station and hunted a Tiger (Panthera Tigris) and Leopard (Panthera Pardus) which were included in Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972. They collected 12 claws, 4 teeths of Leopard and 2 claws of the Tiger and also tried to sell them. On investigation, the involvement of accused Nos. 3 to 11 were revealed and the applicant thereby committed the above offences.