ORDER

The petitioner is the accused in Crime No.160/2022 of Vadakkanchery Police Station, which was registered against him for the offences punishable under Section 17 of Kerala Money Lenders Act , 1958 and Section 3 and 9 (1)(a) of Kerala Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act , 2012. The aforesaid crime was registered based on an inspection conducted in the residential premises of the petitioner on 21.02.2022 by the Police upon getting information that the money lending business is being carried on therein without any license. In the said inspection, certain gold ornaments and documents indicating the conduct of money lending business were seized by the Police. The crime was registered accordingly and the investigation is now in progress.

2. The petitioner submitted Crl.M.P. No.1165/2022 before the learned Magistrate seeking interim custody of the gold ornaments seized from his possession. The aforesaid application was dismissed by the learned Magistrate as per Annexure I and this Crl.M.C. is filed challenging the aforesaid order.

3. Heard Sri.Vinay V., learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri.C.S. Hrithwik, learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the State

4.