ORDER

This Crl.M.C. has been filed challenging Annexure-II order in Crl.M.P.No.614/2023 in Crime No.43/2022 of Excise Range Office, Thiruvananthapuram, pending before the Additional Sessions Court-I, Thiruvananthapuram. The order was passed on an application filed by the petitioner under Section 451 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as the 'Cr.P.C'). for release of a vehicle seized in a crime registered under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as the 'NDPS Act'). The said application filed by the petitioner was rejected on the ground that the matter of disposal of the vehicle has been forwarded to the Drugs Disposal Committee under Section 52A of the NDPS Act.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that this Court inShanil v. State of Kerala; 2023 (2) KLT 430 had taken the view that notwithstanding the provisions contained in Section 52A of the NDPS Act, an application for interim custody of a seized vehicle can be considered by the competent Court under Section 457 Cr.P.C. 3. The learned Public Prosecutor seeks time to get instructions.

However, having perused the j