Petitioner is accused in Crime No.944 of 2014 of the Chengannur Police Station for the offences punishable under Section 17 of the Kerala Money Lenders Act, Secs.3 and 4 of the Kerala Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Bill, 2012 and Sec.420 of the Indian Penal Code, is in custody from 11.05.2014 and seeks bail. 2. Leaned Public Prosecutor has opposed the application. It is submitted that the petitioner is engaged in money lending business without licence and search was conducted on 11.05.2014 at 12.30 pm. Three cheque leaves, a few stamp papers and a few RC Books were taken to custody.
3. Learned counsel submitted that the allegations are not true.
4. Since the petitioner is in custody from 11.05.2014 and his further detention is not required, I am inclined to grant relief subject to conditions.
Application is disposed of under:
(i) Petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.944 of 2014 of the Chengannur Police Station and shall be released, if not required to be detained otherwise on his executing bond for Rs.20,000/- (Rupees twenty thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional magistrate and subject to the following conditions:
(a) One of the sureties shall be a close relative of the petitioner.
(b) Petitioner shall report to the officer investigating the case on every alternate Saturday between 10.00 a.m and 12.00 p.m for a period of two months or until final report is filed, whichever is earlier.
(c) Petitioner shall report to the officer investigating the case as and when required for interrogation.
(d) Petitioner shall not get involved in any offence during the period of this bail.
(e) Petitioner shall not intimidate or influence the witnesses.
(ii) In case the petitioner violates any of conditions (b) to (e), it is open to the investigating Officer to move the learned magistrate for cancellation of the bail as held in P.K.Shaji v. State of Kerala (AIR 2006 SC 100).
THOMAS P. JOSEPH, JUDGE.
vsv