Krishnammal vs State

A.D.Jagadish Chandira, J

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 18.10.2022, for the offences punishable under Sections 4(1)(aaa) r/w 4(1-A) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, in Crime No.259 of 2022 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

The case of the prosecution is that on 18.10.2022, when the respondent police and his team were on their regular patrol duty, petitioner along with the other accused were found to be in illegal possession of 605 TASMAC Liquor bottles containing 131.840 litres of illicit arrack. Hence the case.

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that this is the second bail application before this Court and this Court had earlier dismissed the bail application filed by the petitioner in Crl.O.P.No.28054 of 2022 vide order dated 16.11.2022 on considering the previous antecedents of the petitioner. He further submitted that the petitioner is in custody from 18.10.2022, hence, he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.

The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that the petitioner along with the other accused were found in illegal possession of 605 TASMAC Liquor bottles containing 131.840 litres of illicit arrack. He further submitted that 3 previous cases of similar nature are pending against the petitioner and this is her second bail application before this Court. Hence, he vehemently opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that without prejudice to her defense, the petitioner is ready and willing to deposit an amount of Rs.25,000/- as non-refundable deposit to any welfare scheme of the Government or to any shelter home and she is ready to abide by any stringent conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prays for grant of bail to the petitioner.

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) and perused the materials available on record.

In order to curb the illegal activities of selling illicit arrack, this Court is of the opinion that the petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.25,000/-(Rupees Twenty Five thousand only) as a non refundable deposit to "The Dean/Medical Officer, Government Dharmapuri Medical College and Hospital, Dharmapuri District", without prejudice to her rights and contentions before the trial Court.

Merely, because the petitioner has deposited the said amount, it would not amount to admission of her guilt. Therefore, it is open to the trial Court to deal with the case independently.

Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions made by the learned counsel and also taking note of the fact that the petitioner is prepared to deposit Rs.25,000/- to any welfare scheme of the Government, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on condition to make a non refundable deposit of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five thousand only) by way of Demand Draft/RTGS/NEFT to "The Dean/Medical Officer, Government Dharmapuri Medical College and Hospital, Dharmapuri District", without prejudice to her rights and contentions before the trial Court, on such deposit and production of proof, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on her executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/-(Rupees Twenty Five thousand only) with two sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Pennagaram, and on further conditions that:

[a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity;

[b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders;

[c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

[d] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;

[e] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560];

[f] If the accused thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 229A IPC.