IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA
K. Ramakrishnan, J.
Saifudheen - Petitioner
Versus
Circle Inspector of Police and others - Respondents
Crl. M.C. No. 3401 of 2014
Decided On : 24-10-2014
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 - S.68F - Search and Seizer of property - Order of forfeiture - Independent Chapter - Passing of order - Forfeiture of property - Freezing or seizure of the property - Enquiry under - Held, merely because the articles were seized on the basis of the search that itself does not amount to seizure or freezing as mentioned in S.68F of the N.D.P.S. Act. It has to be independently considered after appreciation of materials and to pass an order of seizure and that order of seizure alone need be intimated to the competent authority within 48 hours of making such an order and that has to be conferred by the competent authority within thirty days and it is not so, the seizure will have no effect, that is nothing to do with the seizure effected for the purpose of considering the question of commission of offence by the court below under the provisions of the N.D.P.S. Act - Dismissed.
K. Ramakrishnan, J.
This is a petition filed by the petitioner in Crl. M.P. No. 1734/2014 of Sessions Court, Thrissur in Crime No. 2518/2012 of Kunnamkulam police station challenging the order in Crl. M.P.No.17342014 of that court under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code').
2. It is alleged in the petition that the petitioner is the first accused in Crime No. 2518/2012 of Kunnamkulam police station for the alleged commission of the offences under Sections 468, 471 and 419 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 12(1)(b) of the Passport Act, 1967 and Sections 27 A and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as the NDPS Act).
3. On 19.12.2012, while the Sub Inspector of Police, Kunnamkulam police station along with the police constables were conducting patrol duty, he got reliable information that unaccounted money and costly articles were kept in the house of the petitioner. Thereafter, he went to the police station and after complying with the formalities, along with the first respondent and the police party, came to the house of the petitioner bearing No. XIII/436 of Choondal Grama Panchayat and searched the house and seized a sum of Rs.53,80,900/-, two passports and gold ornaments and seized the same as per a mahazer. They questioned the petitioner and at that time he told that the amount was entrusted by his friend in Gulf country for the purpose of real estate business. But it was alleged by the prosecution that the petitioner had given a statement that the amount was acquired by illicit trade of narcotic drugs and his passport was seized as the address mentioned in the petition was different. Thereafter they took the articles and the petitioner and went to the police station and the Sub Inspector of Police, Kunnamkulam registered Crime No. 2518/2012 under Sections 468, 471 and 419 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 12(1)(b) of the Passport Act, 1967 and sections 27 A and 29 of the NDPS Act. The entire action of registering the case against the petitioner under sections 27 A and 29 of the NDPS Act is highly misconceived. The petitioner filed Crl.M.P. No. 1734/2014 before the Sessions Court, Thrissur and the learned Sessions Judge dismissed the application for interim custody of the amount of Rs.53,80,900/-, 2 gold bars each weighing 10 grams each and one gold necklace as per order dated 11.6.2014. Aggrieved by the same, the present petition has been filed challenging that order.
4. The respondents filed Crl. M.A. No. 7128/2014, in which it was mentioned that the deponent is the investigating officer in Crime No. 39/OCW-III/Pkd/2013 (Kunnamkulam police station in Crime No. 2518/2012) under Sections 468, 471 and 419 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 12(1)(b) of the Passport Act, 1967 and sections 27 A and 29 of the NDPS Act. He took investigation on 24.2.2014. It is alleged in the petition that when the Sub Inspector of Police, Kunnamkulam came to know that unauthorised money is kept in the house of the petitioner, he along with the Circle Inspector of Police on 19.12.2012 at 00.30 hours conducted search of the house and seized articles including the amount and gold ornaments mentioned in the petition. Thereafter he registered a crime as Crime No. 2518/2012 of Kunnamkulam police station alleging commission of the above said offences. The petitioner in the main petition gave a statement stating that he had acquired landed properties at various places in Kerala using the money sent by Gireeshumar @ Alibhai, S/o. Vijaya, Kalarithodi House, Thottakkara village, Ottapalam, who is undergoing imprisonment in Kuwait Jail for being convicted for 10 years in a narcotic case. The 2nd accused Gireesh kumar was regularly sending money to the first accused through various agencies and also through the hawala route. It is revealed that he had acquired several properties as well. The amount so far seized is also a part of such amount. The a
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