ORDER

Date : 18-11-2022 Heard Mr. M.U. Mahmud, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. K.K. Das, learned Addl. P.P for the State of Assam.

2. The petitioner Sahidul Islam has filed an application under Section 438 Cr.P.C. with prayer for pr-arrest bail in connection with Kharupetia P.S. Case No. 259/2022 under Sections

379/41/34 IPC.

3. An FIR dated 14.09.2022 has been lodged at about 10 AM which unfolds that the police conducted a raid in a rice mill at Bihudia under Kharupetia and recovered 70 sacks full of rice from the rice mill of Ashadullah Ahcon and the rice is suspected to be PDS rice. The rice was being unloaded from a vehicle bearing Registration No. AS12/BC-2010 but when the police demanded for documents supporting the transfer of rice, no valid documents could be produced and the police could uncover that the petitioner who was the Secretary of Baruajhar Samabay Samiti used to provide PDS rice from time to time to different persons for his wrongful gain. The PDS rice was seized along with the vehicle and Ashadullah Ahcon along with Hanif Ali were forwarded to custody.

4. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that the Deputy Commissioner including the Direct