Accused Nos.2 and 1 in FOC No.16/2023-24 registered

by

the

Range

Forest

Officer,

Lakkavalli

Range,

Chikkamgaluru, for the offence punishable under Sections

62, 71A, 84, 86, 104-B of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963

and Rules 144 and 165 of the Karnataka Forest Rules,

1969, are before this Court in these two petitions under

Section 439 of Cr.P.C.

2.

Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

3.

It is the case of the prosecution that on

06.09.2023, Range Forest Officials had got a credible

information

that

two

persons

were

transporting

sandalwood and based on said information, they had

intercepted the petitioners, who were travelling in a motor

cycle bearing registration No. KA66-H2267 and from their

possession, 12 kgs 100 grams of sandalwood chips were

recovered and subjected to panchanama.

- 4 -

4.

Thereafter, the apprehended accused were

produced before the jurisdictional Court and remanded to

judicial custody. Their bail application filed before the

Court

of

Principal

District

and

Sessions

Judge,

Chikkamagaluruin Crl. Misc. Petn. No.693/2023 was

rejected on 22.09.2023. Therefore, they are before this

Court.

5.

Learned counsel for the petitioner