The court facilitated the surrender of an accused residing abroad by directing the Investigating Officer to coordinate the process and keeping the Look Out Circular (LOC) in abeyance for a limited period to allow the petitioner to apply for bail before the Trial Court.

THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 21.08.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:

Dated this the 21st day of August, 2026

ORDER

The petitioner is the 7th accused in S.C.No. 917/2025 on the file of the Court of Sessions, Kasaragod (‘Trial Court’, for short), which has originated from Crime No. 432/2024 registered by the Melparamba Police Station, Kasaragod, alleging the commission of the offence punishable under Sections 22(b) read with Section 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

It is the case of the petitioner that she has been falsely implicated in the above crime. The petitioner came to learn that she has been arraigned as the accused in the crime only when she received Annexure 2 show cause notice from the Regional Passport Office, Kozhikode. She has also learnt that the final report (complaint) has already been filed in the above case and the case has been numbered as S.C. No. 917/2025. The case stands posted for the return of the warrant to 03.09.2026. The petitioner is presently abroad. There is a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against her. In fact, the petitioner is also an accused in Crime No. 619/2024 registered by the Manjeshwar Police Station, Kasaragod. By Annexure 6 order, this Court has permitted the petitioner to surrender before the jurisdictional court and get herself enlarged on bail. The petitioner is ready and willing to surrender before the Trial Court in this case also and get herself enlarged on bail. Nonetheless, the petitioner is apprehensive that her application may not be considered on the same day, and she may be remanded to judicial custody. Hence, the Crl.M.C.

I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor.

On a consideration of the facts and the materials on record, without expressing anything on the merits of the matter, I dispose of the Crl.M.C in the following manner:

i). The petitioner is directed to appear before the Investigating Officer in Crime No.432/2024 on or before 27.08.2026.

ii). The Investigating Officer is directed to obtain the phone number, address and the other details of the petitioner, and ensure that she surrenders before the Trial Court within three days from the date of her arrival. However, the Investigating Officer shall not enforce the LOC.

iii). On the petitioner surrendering before the Trial Court, and filing applications to recall the LOC and to enlarge her on bail, the Trial Court shall consider the applications, in accordance with law, on the day that the petitioner surrenders before the Trial Court.

iv). In order to enable the petitioner to surrender before the Trial Court, the LOC issued against the petitioner shall be kept in abeyance till 31.08.2026, provided the petitioner appears before the Investigating Officer on or before 27.08.2026, and surrenders before the Trial Court on or before 31.08.2026.