Petitioner is the 1st accused in Crime No.23 of 2014 of the Tripunithura Excise Range Office for the offences punishable under Sections 55(a), 55D and 61 of the Kerala Abkari Act for alleged possession and transportation of 350 liters of spirit in a car, is in custody from 03.05.2014 and seeks bail.
2. Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the application. It is submitted that on 01.05.2014 the Excise Officials seized the contraband. When the owner of the car in which the contraband was being transported was questioned, it is revealed that the petitioner had taken the car on rent a car basis. The petitioner was arrested. It is also submitted that the petitioner is involved in Crime Nos. 78 of 2011 of the Vadakara Excise Range, 78 of 2011 of the Kunnamkulam Police Station and 629 of 2013 of the Idukki Police Station for similar offences.
3. Learned counsel submits that the allegations are not true. It is submitted that when the application for bail was B.A.No.4652 of 2014 2 opposed on an earlier occasion only contention was that the other accused are not arrested. That situation is not in existed now.
4. Having regard to nature of allegations made against the petitioner, the objection raised by the learned Public Prosecutor and considering antecedents of the petitioner, request for bail cannot be allowed at this stage.
Application is dismissed.
Sd/-
THOMAS P. JOSEPH, JUDGE.
AS /True Copy/ P.A. to Judge