BIPIN SHANTILAL PANCHAL Vs. PRUTHVIRAJ ALIAS ANIRUDHSINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned Senior Advocate Mr. R. K. Shah appearing for the petitioner. Rule. Learned Advocate Kiran R. Jani with Senior Advocate B. B. Nayak having appeared in response to the notice issued to respondent No. 1 has waived the service of Rule. Similarly, learned Advocate Mr. M. R. Gehani who has appeared in response to the notice issued to respondent No. 2 has waived service of Rule. Learned A.P.P. Mr. A. J. Desai has waived service of Rule on behalf of respondent No. 3. By consent of the parties, the matter is finally heard.

(2.) The petitioner is the original accused No. 2 of a Sessions Case No. 162 of 1994, which is pending at present in the Court of Additional City Sessions Judge, Ahmedabad, Court No. 10. Respondent No. 2 is the original complainant, on whose complaint, said Sessions Case No. 162 of 1994 has been registered under the provisions of S.21, 22 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as "N.D.P.S. Act"). The petitioner has challenged the legality, validity and propriety of order dated 12th May, 1997 passed by learned Additional City Sessions Judge, Ahmedabad, Court No. 10, below Exh. 99 in the proceedings of Sessions Case No. 162 of 1994. That vide impugned Order, learned Additional Sessions Judge has discharged present respondent No. 1 who was arraigned as accused No. 8 in the proceedings of said Sessions Case No. 162 of 1994 under Sec. 319(1) of of Cr. P.C., 1973.

(3.) That on receipt of intelligence report, the Officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (D.R.I. for short) raided the Warehouse at International Airport, Bombay on 4-11-1993 and under a panchnama seized a consignment lying at air cargo which was to be exported through Kenya Airways. That on investigation, said consignment was found to be containing 162 kgs. Methaqualone tablets which is also known as "Mandrex Tablets". That the Officers of D.R.I. started further investigation as said consignment was found to be containing contraband material under the provisions of N.D.P.S. Act. That on further investigation, the Officers of D.R.I. also seized another consignment from an abandoned ambassador car found on Gandhinagar- Mehsana Highway on 12-1-1994. That the said consignment contained 166.750 kgs. of Mandrex tablets. Similarly, on 13-1-1994, Officers seized the consignment from the godown of Gota village containing 1,489.6 kgs. Mandrex tablets. That the Officers of D.R.I. recorded statements of various persons during the investigation and on completion, filed a complaint in the Court of City Sessions Judge, Ahmedabad against (1) Achint Navnitbhai Patel, (2) Dr. Bipin Panchal, (3) Arvind Shivlal Soni, (4) Prahaladbhai Maganbhai Patel, (5) Revabhai Khemabhai Patel, (6) Kashyap Arunbhai Patel, (7) Piyush Mulshankar Pandya; and some other persons. That the said case is registered as Sessions Case No. 162 of 1994 under the provisions of N.D.P.S. Act.