Period undergone during detention period to be adjusted against period of sentence awarded.

This application is filed by the accused in C.C.No.34 of 1998 pending before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court (Economic Offences), Ernakulam to quash the entire proceedings under Sec.482 of the Crl.P.C.

2. In connection with the seizure of foreign currencies of several countries valued at Rs. 1,02,92,400 as per the exchange rate then prevailing on 11.9.1995 from a briefcase while the Air Customs Intelligence Unit, Calicut Airport conducted random checking of the registered baggages of the passengers bound for Sharjah in Flight No. I.C.993 from Calicut Airport, the Customs Officials registered a case in O.S.No.185 of 1995 under Sec.135 of the Customs Act, 1962 against the petitioner and two others. During the relevant period the petitioner was employed with the Indian Airlines as Headlooader and working Karipur Airport, Calicut. The petitioner was arrested on 22.9.1995 after summoning him and recording his statement under Sec.108 of the Customs Act. When produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, (Economic Offences), Ernakulam, he was remanded to custody. Though the application for grant of bail filed by the petitioner in Crl.M.P.No.4537 of 1995 was originally dismissed by the Additional A.J.M. (E.O) Ernakulam, Subsequently the learned Additional C.J.M. granted bail to the petitioner as per order in Crl.M.P.No.6266 of 1995 dated 22.11.1995 directing the petitioner to deposit Rs.l lakh in cash and to execute bond for Rs.2 lakhs with two sureties having solvency certificate for Rs.2 lakhs each. According to the petitioner, as he cannot meet the aforesaid onerous conditions, he filed Crl.M.P.No.966 of 1998 seeking to delete the onerous conditions imposed while granting bail to him. The learned Additional C.J.M. modified the condition and granted bail to the petitioner on execution of bond for Rs.2 lakhs with two solvent sureties having solvency certificates for the like amount. It is also contended by the petitioner that as he could not comply with that condition also he continues to be in custody even now.

3. The petitioner has further contended that while he was in judicial custody he was detained under the COFEPOSA for a period of two years from 23.1.1996 to 23.1.1998 at the instance of the 1st respondent and he was removed from the Sub Jail, Ernakulam while in custody to the Central Prison, Tiruvananthapuram to undergo detention and on expiry of the period of detention under COFEPOSA he was returned to the Sub Jail, Ernakulam to continue in judicial custody. It is also contended by the petitioner that the 1st respondent deliberately delayed the investigation and filing of complaint against the petitioner and others in this case and at last after several representations made by the petitioner and the directions issued by the learned Additional C.J.M., the 1st respondent filed complaint before the court on 30.11.1997 and even after filing the belated complaint absolutely no step is taken by the respondents to try and dispose of the case in spite of the repeated requests made by the petitioner in that behalf narrating the hardship and misery caused to him due to his continued detention in prison. Therefore, he filed the above application to quash the entire proceedings against him since the offence that can be sustained against him is only punishable under Sec.135 of the Customs Act which provides a maximum punishment of imprisonment of three years and he has been in custody for the purpose of this case for more than three years and as such this is an eminently fit case where in the provisions of Sec.482 of the Crl.P.C. have to be exercised and the proceedings against him should be quashed in the interests of justice.

4. The learned Additional Central Government Standing Counsel opposed this application on behalf of the 1st respondent submitted that the allegation made against the petitioner is the only offence punishable under Sec.135 of the Customs Act and the maximum sentence provided u