Bail granted based on insufficient evidence and lack of criminal history.

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 accused No.1 in Crime No.13/2026 of Thrissur Excise Range Office, Thrissur District. The offences alleged are punishable under Sections 6 (a) and 6(b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA Act), and Sections 15C r/w 63 and 55(i) of the Kerala Abkari Act, 1077 .

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

30.01.2026, at 2.00 pm, the applicant was found in possession of 5 kg tobacco products and 800 ml of IMFL at EWA-1249/82 KSEB electric connection shop at Thrissur Corporation, in violation of the provisions of the Kerala Abkari Act. The accused No.2 was found consuming liquor in public place. Thus, the applicant committed the offences alleged.

4. I have heard Sri.Sarath Babu Kottakkal, 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 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 remanded to judicial custody on 30.01.2026. The investigation is almost over. The recovery has been effected. The applicant has no criminal antecedents. For these reasons, I do not find any reason to hold that the continued detention of the applicant is required for any purpose. Hence, the applicant is entitled to be released on bail.

In the result, the application is allowed on the following conditions: -

(i) The applicant shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh only) with two solvent sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Magistrate/Court.

(ii) The applicant shall fully co-operate with the investigation.

(iii) The applicant shall appear before the investigating officer between 10.00 a.m and 11.00 a.m. every Saturday until further orders. He shall also appear before the investigating officer as and when required.

(iv) The applicant shall not commit any offence of a like nature while on bail.

(v) The applicant shall not attempt to contact any of the prosecution witnesses, directly or through any other person, or in any other way try to tamper with the evidence or influence any witnesses or other persons related to the investigation.

(vi) The applicant shall not leave the State of Kerala without the permission of the trial Court.

(vii) The application, if any, for deletion/modification of the bail conditions or cancellation of bail on the grounds of violating the bail conditions shall be filed at the jurisdictional court.

Sd/-