#Kerala High Court bail judgment

Kerala High Court rules that searches in private vehicles at public places between sunset and sunrise require strict compliance with Section 42 of the NDPS Act, including warrant and grounds of belief. Non-compliance vitiates the search, entitling the accused to bail, even if the recovery occurs in a public place.

Kerala High Court ruled that a consensual relationship between a 22-year-old accused and a 15-year-old victim does not inherently justify continued detention under the PoCSO Act, especially when the investigation is complete. The court emphasized that bail considerations must account for the nature of the relationship and absence of criminal antecedents, setting a precedent for similar cases under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.