O R D E R

Dated this the 29th day of March, 2023 Petitioner's Innova car bearing Reg. No. KL-03-AB-5511 was seized in connection with Crime No. 686 of 2022 registered at Sasthamcotta Police Station, alleging commission of offences punishable under Sections 20 (b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act .

2. The prosecution case is that, on 08.05.2022, 46.78 kgms of Ganja was seized from the accused, while they were travelling in the petitioner's car.

3. The petitioner is not an accused in the crime. She was in US when the alleged incident took place. According to the petitioner, her driver had handed over the car to one of the accused for taking his wife to hospital. Although, a petition under Section 451 Cr.P.C. seeking interim custody of the vehicle was moved before the Principal Sessions Court, Kollam, that petition was dismissed by Annexure A1 order.

Thereafter the petitioner approached the Drug Disposal Committee, 3rd respondent, seeking release of her vehicle. As no order was passed on her application, the petitioner then moved a writ petition and this Court issued a direction to the DDC to dispose of the petition. In spite of such direction the DDC is ta