Manickam v. The State of Tamilnadu Rep. by the Inspector of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 11/08/2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.MURALI SHANKAR Manickam, S/o.Ramalingam, No. 3/319, Marudhi Nagar 3rd Cross, Gndur Burma Colony, Airport Post, Thiruverumbur Taluk, Trichy District.. ... Petitioner/Sole Accused Vs The State of Tamilnadu Rep By, The Inspector of Police, Navalpattu Police Station, Trichy District. Cr.No. 242/2026.. ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.R.Yamuna, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.N.Balasubramanian, Counsel for State of TN (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :- C-33B. For Bail in Crime No. 242 of 2026 on the file of the respondent Police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner/Sole Accused, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 02.08.2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 275 and 123 of BNS, 2023, r/w Sections 6(b) and 24(1) of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, in Crime No.242 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner was found in illegal possession of 8.305 kgs of tobacco products, which are banned by the State Government and sold the same. Hence, the complaint.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Hence, he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned Counsel for State of TN (Criminal side) appearing for the respondent Police would submit that the property has been recovered that the petitioner is having one previous case and in that case, he was already convicted. However, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

¶5Considering the nature of the charges levelled against the petitioner and also the facts that the property has been recovered and that the petitioner is in judicial custody from 02.08.2026, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

¶6Accordingly, the petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.40,000/- (Rupees Forty Thousand only) to the credit of Government of Tamil Nadu, CMPRF in IOB, Secretariat Branch, Chennai-9 (Account No. 11720 10000 00070, IFSC Code: IOBA0001172), without prejudice to his rights and contentions before the trial Court and produce the receipt/acknowledgment before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.III, Trichy.

¶7On production of such receipt/acknowledgment, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/-(Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.III, Trichy and on further conditions that [a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity. [b]the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at

10.30 a.m., for a period of thirty (30) days and thereafter as and when required for interrogation. [c]the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [d]the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. [e]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]. [f]If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 229-A IPC.

(K M S J)

11.08.2026 VSG TO

1.The learned Judicial Magistrate No.III, Trichy.

2.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Trichy.

3.The Government of Tamil Nadu, CMPRF in IOB, Secretariat Branch, Chennai-9.

4.The Inspector of Police, Navalpattu Police Station, Trichy District.

¶5The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. K.MURALI SHANKAR,J., vsg ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.16950 of 2026 Date : 11/08/2026