Balaji v. Home, Prohibition and Excise Department

ORDER The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent Police for the offences punishable under Sections 303(2) of BNS r/w 21(1) of MM Act, r/w 4(1)(1A) of MM Act in Crime No.168 of 2026 on the file of the Page2 of 6 respondent Police, seek anticipatory bail.

¶2The learned counsel for the petitioner, pleading innocence on the part of the petitioner and false implication in the case, seeks indulgence of this Court. He submits that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that the petitioner is ready to abide by any stringent condition that may be imposed by this Court. Therefore, he prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶3The case of the prosecution as put forth by the learned counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent police, opposing the grant of anticipatory bail that the petitioner along with another person were involved in illegal transportation of ½ unit of river sand in a Tractor without any valid permit or license and that the petitioner was caught red handed by the respondent police. He further submitted that two previous cases have been registered against the petitioner. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶4Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) for the respondent Police and Page3 of 6 perused the materials available on record, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner with certain conditions. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate Court, Needamangalam on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further conditions that: [a] the petitioner and the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity; [b] The petitioner is directed to make a non-refundable deposit of Rs.20,000/- [Rupees Twenty Thousand Only] directly to the credit of "Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, High Court Campus, Chennai", without prejudice to the right of the defence before the Trial Court and the receipt shall be produced at the time of executing the bond; [c] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders; [d] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; Page4 of 6 [e] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560]; [g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S. 29-05-2026 SHL/NSL Note:

¶1Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order on the Official Website of this Court.

¶2All concerned to act on this order being uploaded on Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code. Page5 of 6 To:

¶1The District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate Court, Needamangalam

¶2The Inspector of Police, Koradachery Police Station, Thiruvarur District,

¶3The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras CRLoOPoNo.o13408oofo2026 MOHAMMEDoSHAFFIQoJ. SHL/NSL CRLoOPoNo.o13408oofo2026 29-05-2026 Page6oofo6

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 29-05-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ Balaji ..Petitioner Vs The State rep by The Inspector of Police, Koradachery Police Station, Thiruvarur District, (Crime No 168 of 2026) ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on the Bail in the event of arrest in connection with Crime No 168 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner: Mr.A.Sivapandi For Respondent: Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side)