DINESH KAPURJI RANAVAT Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has preferred this petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India to get the custody of muddamal vehicle being Ashok Layland Truck having registration number GJ-01-DV-2129, which is seized by police in connection with FIR being Prohibition C.R.No.III-10 of 2019 registered with Dabhoda Police station, District : Gandhinagar for offences punishable under sections 65(A), 65(E), 98(2) and 116(B) etc. of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.

(2.) Learned advocate for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner being the owner of muddamal vehicle moved an application under section 451 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 ['the code for short] before the learned 4th Additional Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Gandhinagar for interim custody of the vehicle during the pendency of the Trial of the case. The learned Magistrate, by his order dated 01.08.2020, rejected the application essentially on the ground of bar contained in section 98(1) of the Prohibition Act and the quantum of sentence prescribed for the offence. The petitioner assailed the order of the learned Magistrate by preferring the Criminal Revision Application No. 81 of 2019 in the Sessions Court, Gandhinagar. Learned Principal Sessions Judge, Gandinagar, by his judgement dated 31.08.2019, confirmed the order passed by the learned Magistrate. The petitioner is therefore, before this Court with the present petition.

(3.) Rule returnable forthwith. Learned APP waives service of notice of rule on behalf of the respondent-State. With consent of the learned advocates for the parties, the matter has taken up for final disposal today.