SURENDRAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONER, who is the 1st accused in O.R.No.16/03 of Neyyattinkara Excise Range for offences punishable under Secs.55(a), 55(g), 8(1) and 8(2) of the Abkari Act, seeks anticipatory bail.

(2.) CONSEQUENT on the non-appearance of the petitioner in C.P. No.84/05 on the file of the J.F.C.M.-I, Neyyattinkara, non-bailable warrants of arrest are pending against the petitioner. Anticipatory bail cannot be granted to nullify the process issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. There is no reason why the petitioner should not surrender before the Magistrate and seek regular bail. Accordingly, if the petitioner surrenders before the Magistrate and files an application for regular bail within two weeks from today, the same shall be considered and disposed of, preferably on the same day on which it is filed, after considering the explanation offered by the petitioner for his previous non-appearance, bearing in mind the decision of this court reported in Sukumari Vs. State of Kerala [2001 (1) KLT 22]. With the above observation this application is disposed of.