Pre-arrest bail granted when custodial interrogation deemed unnecessary despite serious allegations.

ORDER

This application is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, BNSS ), seeking pre-

arrest bail.

2. The applicant is the accused No.5 in Crime No.222/2026 of Palakkad Town South Police Station, Palakkad District. The offences alleged are punishable under Section 118 (f) of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 , Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and Section 9(B)(1)(b) of the Indian Explosives Act, 1884 .

3. The prosecution case, in short, is that on 04.02.2026 at about 20.15 hours, at Kadamkode Service Road, accused No.1 acting as the driver of the vehicle bearing registration No.TN-90-H-3740, was found illegally transporting 18000 gelatin sticks and 4800 non-electric detonators knowing that these are dangerous explosive substances, in the said vehicle, without any lawful license or permit and without any adequate safety measures. On interrogation of accused No.1, the involvement of accused Nos.2 to 5 is revealed in this case.

Thus, the applicant have committed the offences.

4. I have heard Sri. V.A.Johnson, 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 above crime. The counsel further submitted that no materials are on record to connect the applicant with the alleged crime; hence,he is entitled to bail. The learned Senior Public Prosecutor, on the other hand, submitted that the alleged incident occurred as part of the applicant's intentional criminal acts, and if he is released on bail at this stage, it will affect the course of the investigation.

6. The case record would show that the explosive substance was transported by the accused No.1. The applicant was arrayed as the accused on the basis of the confession statement of accused No.1 and other accused who stated that it was at the instance of the applicant, the accused No.1 transported the explosive substance in the vehicle. The explosive substance was already recovered. The investigation is almost over and all the remaining accused were arrested.

Considering the allegations made against the applicant, his custodial interrogation seems unnecessary. For these reasons, I find this to be an appropriate case to grant pre-arrest bail to the applicant.

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

(i) The applicant shall be released on bail in the event of his arrest 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 arresting officer/investigating officer, as the case may be.

(ii) The applicant shall fully cooperate with the investigation, including subjecting himself to the deemed police custody for discovery, if any, as and when demanded.

(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 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