R. Ravi v. The State Rep.By Its, the Inspector of Police,

ORDER The petitioner, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 296(b), 132, 351(2), 123 of BNS, 2023 and section 24(1) of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Acts, in Crime No.466 of 2025, seeks anticipatory bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that while A1 and A2 brought 171.935 kgs of banned tobacco products from Andhra and they brought it and kept it in A1's room, they have intimated the same to the petitioner herein and this petitioner has informed them to keep some portion of the contraband in the shop run by the petitioner herein and while A1 and A2 were standing in the shop of A3 they were arrested and on the basis of statement from them the contraband was seized. Hence the case has been registered.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case for statistical purposes and is ready to cooperate with the investigation. It is further submitted that the contraband was seized only from A1's room, not from the shop, hence there's no link between the contraband and the petitioner. Therefore, he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and produced the copy of the statement recorded from A1. It revealed that the petitioner is habitually collecting contraband by engaging A1 and A2 and they used to collect it from Andhra Pradesh and similarly on the date of occurrence I.e., on 12.12.2025, 171 kgs of contraband was brought and instead of keeping they directed them to keep it in the room of A1 and on information police have intervened and arrested A1 and recovered the contraband and it is also reported the petitioner is also having 10 previous cases. Hence, he opposed the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶5Considering the nature of offence committed by the petitioner, and taking note of the fact that there are 10 previous cases pending against the petitioner, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 30-01-2026 Mpa Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes To

1.The State Rep.by its, The Inspector of Police, R-3, Ashok Nagar Police Station, Chennai.

2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. K.RAJASEKAR J. mpa

30-01-2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 30-01-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR 1. R. Ravi S/o. Ramakrishnan, No.3/49, Melatheru, Lekkampatti, Mandhikulam, Thoothukkudi-628907. Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The State Rep.by its, The Inspector of Police, R-3, Ashok Nagar Police Station, Chennai. Respondent(s) PRAYER To grant an Order of Anticipatory Bail in the event of arrest of the petitioner in connection with Crime No. 466 of 2025 pending investigation on the file of the Respondent Police. For Petitioner(s): Bharath Kumar For Respondent(s): M/S.J.R.Archana Government Advocate (Crl.Side)