Judgment

The petitioner is challenging in this petition the order of detention passed against him by the District Magistrate, Ahmedabad under Section 3(2) of the prevention of Black marketing and maintenance of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.

2. The facts leading to the passing of the detention order,briefly stated, are as follows. On 4.7.1998, the Officers of the Food and Civil Supplies Controller’s Office raided the sugar candy factory of the petitioner. He was found in possession of 1140 litres of white colour kerosene and 515 litres of blue colored kerosene. The white colour kerosene was suspected to be blue colored kerosene later on turned into white. The officers suspected that the entire quantity of kerosene was a part of the blue colored kerosene meant for distribu­tion amongst weaker section of the society at subsidised rates through the Public Distribution System. Analysis of samples of that kerosene done by the Forensic Science laboratory, Ahmedabad confirmed their suspicion. As the petitioner was thus found to have unauthorisedly obtained, stored and consumed blue colored kerosene meant for weaker section of the society for his business purpose and as the entire quantit