GEORGEKUTTY JOHN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This application is filed under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C.

(2.) The applicant herein is the 1st accused in O.R. No.1 of 2018 registered at the Peruvannamuzhi Forest Range Office. He is accused of committing offence punishable under Sections 2(16), 2(20), 9, 39, 51 and 57 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

(3.) On 31.12.2017, acting on a tip off, the forest officials of Peruvannamuzhi Range conducted a search in the residential home of the applicant herein and about 13 kilograms of meat of a wild animal kept inside his house was seized. The brother of the applicant, who is a military personnel, was also present there. In addition, the mother and wife of the applicant were also present. It is alleged that after seizure of the meat, the applicant entered the house on a pretext of changing his clothes and thereafter, took to his heels.