RAMAR Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above Criminal Revision Cases have been filed by different petitioners challenging the orders passed by the court below, rejecting the plea of the petitioners for return of vehicles, which are alleged to have been involved in illegal sand mining, resultantly seized by the respondent police.

(2.) In all the above cases, the petitioners are the owners of the vehicles in question. According to the prosecution, the vehicles in question were involved in offences for having transported illegally quarried sand/savudu or caused damage to water bodies and thereupon, the respondent police had registered cases under Ss. 379 IPC and Sec. 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957, respectively, seized the vehicles in question and kept in the custody of the respondent police. The petitioners, filed petition before the Court below under Sec. 451 Cr.P.C, to return their vehicles. The Court below, dismissed the same on the ground that the petitioners vehicles were involved in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (herein after called as "MMDR Act") and in some cases, the vehicles were involved in the same offence repeatedly. Hence, they approached this Court, by way of filing these Criminal Revision Cases.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioners made the following submissions: