The application is filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, for an order of pre- arrest bail.

2. The petitioner is the first accused in O.R No.19/2023 of the Devikulam Forest Range, Idukki, registered against the accused (three in number) for allegedly committing the offences punishable under Sections 2(16),2(35),2(36), 9, 39, 50 and 51 of the Wild Life Protection Act,1972 (in short, ‘Act’).

3. The crux of the prosecution case is that: on 5.8.2023 at about 11.45 p.m, the forest officials heard a gun shot in the forest area. Consequently, they arrested the accused 2 and 3 from the above area. During their interrogation, they confessed that the first petitioner/first accused was also involved in the crime.

Thus, the accused have committed the above offences.

B.A No.7408 of 2023

4. Heard; SriLatheesh Sebastian, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri, Nagaraj Narayanan, the learned Special Public Prosecutor.

5. Sri.Latheesh Sebastian strenuously argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the crime.

Other than for the alleged confession statements of the accused 2 and 3. there is not