Fake Drugs Case: Kerala High Court Prevents Arrest Of Kin Of Beauty Parlour Owner

The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Assistant Excise Commissioner, Ernakulam, not to arrest Liviya Jose, the kin of beauty parlour owner Sheela Sunny, in connection with the fake drugs case. 

Sunny who had been accused of possessing 0.106 grams of the drug LSD stamp, was exonerated and the proceedings against her were quashed in July 2023, on the ground that the chemical analysis of the seized articles had revealed that the same was not LSD stamps as had been alleged. The contraband had been seized from Sunny's scooter. It was following her allegation that her daughter-in-law and sister had used her scooter the day before the drugs were seized, that the Excise Crime Branch issued notice to Jose to appear for questioning. 

Jose thus filed the present anticipatory bail plea. She alleged that she had been made a scapegoat by the investigating officers in the present case. 

The Single Judge Bench of Justice Mohammed Nias C.P. took note of Sunny's exoneration and the finding that the seized articles were not LSD, and it thereby issued the present directive to the Assistant Excise Commissioner not to arrest Jose till the next date of posting on October 3, 2023. 

The Court further directed the Public Prosecutor to file a statement as regards the petitioner's averments in the Bail Application, as well. 

The present plea has been moved through Senior Advocate B. Raman Pillai, and Advocates R. Anil, Sujesh Menon V.B., Thomas Sabu Vadakekut, Mahesh Bhanu S., and Ressil Lonan. 

Case Title: Liviya Jose v. State of Kerala & Anr. 

Case Number: BAIL APPL. NO. 7993 OF 2023

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