ORDER

This application is filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita , 2023 (for short, BNSS ), seeking regular bail.

2. The applicant is the sole accused in Crime No.1/2026 of Varapuzha Excise Range Office, Ernakulam District. The offence alleged is punishable under Sections 55 (i) of the Abkari Act .

3. The prosecution case, in short, is that on

01.01.2026, at about 3 p.m. the applicant stored 13.500 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor for the purpose of illegal sale and thereby committed the above offence.

4. I have heard Sri.Arun Francis, the learned counsel for the applicant and Sri.K.A.Noushad, the learned Senior Public Prosecutor. Perused the case diary.

5. The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. The counsel further submitted that no materials are on record to connect the applicant with the alleged crime; hence, he is entitled to bail. On the other hand, the learned Senior Public Prosecutor submitted that the alleged incident occurred as a part of the intentional criminal acts of the applicant, and he is not entitled to bail at this stage.

6. The applicant was r