( 1 ) PETITIONER an investigative journalist is knocking the doors of this Court on the foundation of Art. 21 of the Constitution of India by way of a bail petition under Section 439, Cr. P. C. on the following factual matrix.

( 2 ) THE petitioner was arrested by the Rampur police on 20-11-2001 in Crime No. 100/01 for the offences punishable under Section 212 r/w S. 34 IPC. In the course of investigation a voluntary statement was obtained from the petitioner. In that statement he has stated that he would show the hidden explosives by Sri Veerappan and his associates in the year 2000 in the forest area and also the gun and bullets kept by one Ramesha and associate of Sri Veerappan. On the basis of this statement, the Sub Inspector of police of Rampur police station along with panch witnesses accompanied, the petitioner and they were taken to Kongana Kaduvu forest area.

( 3 ) PETITIONER showed the spot where the hidden gun was available. They recovered 410 Mascot gun tied in a blue plastic bag and 14 bullets 20 Nobel Zel explosive zilletins, 25 meter length explosive wires and 25 capes. Petitioner had co-operated directly and indirectly with Veerappan to commit severa