Dated this the 25th day of June, 2024 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 third accused in O.R. No.7/2024 of the Palode Forest Range Office, Thiruvananthapuram, registered against the accused for allegedly committing the offences punishable under Sections 2 (2) (16), 9, 29, 39(1)(a)(b)(2), 3(a)(b), 49A(a) (b), 49B, 50 and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection ) Act 1972 and Amendment Act, 2022.

3. The essence of the prosecution case is that: on 11.04.2024, 2.5 kg of ganja and one antler of Sambar Deer were seized from the house of the first accused.

The accused 1 and 2 were arrested on the spot. During their interrogation, the first accused confessed that the antler was handed over to him by the third accused.

Thus, the accused have committed the above offences.

4. Heard; Sri. Aneesh K.R, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Smt. Seetha S. the learned Senior Public Prosecutor.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner strenuously argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the crime. Other than for the alleged confession statement of the 1s