1. RULE. Learned APP Ms. Chetna Shah waives service of notice of rule on behalf of the respondent - State.
2. The present application is filed under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, for regular bail in connection with Arrest Memo bearing File No.DRI File No.DRI/AZU/GI-02/ENQ- 13/2023 dated 23.02.2023 registered with Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Ahmedabad for offences punishable under Sections 135(1)(i) (A) of the Customs Act, 1962.
3. Learned advocate Mr. D.K. Trivedi appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that considering Page 1 of 5 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 21 20:56:46 IST 2023 R/CR.MA/5478/2023 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2023 the nature of the offence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail by imposing suitable conditions.
4. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor Ms. Chetna Shah appearing on behalf of the respondent No.1
-State and learned advocate Mr. Siddharth H. Dave appearing for the respondent No.2 have opposed grant of regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.
5. Learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties do not press for further reasoned order.
6. Having heard the learned advocates for the parties and perusing the material placed on record and taking into consideration the facts of the case, nature of allegations, gravity of offences, role attributed to the accused, without discussing the evidence in detail, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.
7. This Court has considered following aspects:-
applicant is valued at less than Rupees One Crore by the Custom Department itself;
(d) Maximum punishment even if the applicant is held guilty of the offence would be seven years;
(e) there is no past antecedents reported against the present applicant as stated by learned advocate Mr. D.K. Trivedi appearing for the applicant;
(f) Learned APP could not point out any exceptional circumstances.
In the facts and circumstances of the present case, I am inclined to consider the case of the present applicant.
8. This Court has also taken into consideration the law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation, reported in [2012] 1 SCC 40.
9. Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released on regular bail in connection with Arrest Memo bearing File No.DRI File No.DRI/AZU/GI-02/ENQ-13/2023 dated 23.02.2023 registered with Directorate of Page 3 of 5 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 21 20:56:46 IST 2023 R/CR.MA/5478/2023 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2023 Revenue Intelligence, Ahmedabad on executing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that he shall;
[a] not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;
[b] not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the prosecution; [c] surrender passport, if any, to the lower court within a week;
[d] not leave the India without prior permission of the concerned trial court; [e] mark presence before the concerned Police Station between 1st to 10th day of every English calendar month for a period of six months between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.;
[f] furnish the present address of residence to the Investigating Officer and also to the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence without prior permission of the concerned trial court;
The authorities shall adhere to its own Circular relating to COVID-19 and, thereafter, will release the applicant only if he is not required in connection with any other offence for the time being. If breach of any of the above conditions is committed, the Sessions Judge concerned will be free to issue warrant or take appropriate action in the matter. Bail bond to be executed Page 4 of 5 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 21 20:56:46 IST 2023 R/CR.MA/5478/2023 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2023 before the lower Court having jurisdiction to try the case. It will be open for the concerned Sessions Court to delete, modify and/or relax any of the above conditions, in accordance with law.
10. At the trial, the Trial Court shall not be influenced by the prima facie observations made by this Court in the present order.
11. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent.
Direct service is permitted.
(NIRZAR S. DESAI,J) Pallavi Page 5 of 5 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 21 20:56:46 IST 2023