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

2. The petitioners are the accused Nos.2 to 4 in O.R No.5/2023 of the Pattikkad Forest Station, Thrissur, registered against the accused (four in number) for allegedly committing the offences punishable under Sections 9, 39(1) (a), 39(3)(a)(d), 49A(a), 50, 51 and 57 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. (in short, ‘Act’).

3. The crux of the prosecution case is that: on 20.09.2023, the forest officials seized a portion of red meat from the house of the first accused. During his interrogation, he confessed that the accused 2 to 4 were also involved in the crime. Thus, the accused have committed the above offences.

4. Heard; Sri.E.Vijin Karthik, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Sri, Nagaraj Narayanan, the learned Special Public Prosecutor.

5. Sri.Vijin Karthik strenuously argued that the petitioners have been falsely implicated in the crime.

Other than for the alleged confession statement of the first accused there is nothing on record to connect the petitioners with the crime. T