The court grants bail considering the stage of investigation and prior detention, emphasizing the need to balance rights of an accused against public interest.

O R D E R

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.16/2026 of Nadapuram Excise Range Office, Kozhikode District. The offences alleged are punishable under Sections

55(i) and 67B of the Kerala Abkari Act .

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

11.02.2026 at about 12:50 p.m., the applicant was found in possession of 11 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), intended for sale, while being transported in a scooter bearing Reg.No. KL-18-AA-8563 and thereby committed the offences.

4. I have heard Sri. M.P.Priyesh Kumar, 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 remanded to judicial custody on

11.02.2026. The investigation is almost over and the recovery has been effected. It is true that the applicant is involved in a crime of a similar nature. However, considering the stage of the investigation and the period of detention already undergone by the applicant, I am of the view that further detention of the applicant is not necessary. 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/-

DR. KAUSER EDAPPAGATH, JUDGE

APA