Minnarasi v. The State of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 19/08/2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.MURALI SHANKAR Minnarasi, W/o.Olivilakku, South Street, Muthusamipuram, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District.. ... Petitioner/Sole Accused Vs The State of Tamilnadu Rep By, The Inspector of Police, Dhalavaipuram Police Station, Virudhunagar District. Cr.No.268/2026.. ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.Kaleeswaran N, 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 Cr.No.268 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 10.08.2026 for the offences punishable under Section 123 of BNS, 2023 and Section 6(b) r/w 24(1) of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, in Crime No.268 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that on 08.08.2026, based on the secret information, the petitioner was found in illegal possession of 16 packets of Ganesh Tobacco Product. Hence, the complaint.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that the petitioner is in judicial custody from 10.08.2026. 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 255 grams of Ganesh Tobacco Product were recovered from the petitioner. He would further submit that the petitioner is not having any previous cases. However, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

¶5Considering the above facts and circumstances and also the facts that the petitioner is in judicial custody from 10.08.2026 and that the petitioner is not having any bad antecedents, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

¶6Accordingly, 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, Rajapalayam, and on further condition that:

(i)the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate / concerned court may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank Pass Book to ensure their identity;

(ii)the petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.5,000/- (Rupees Five 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. The petitioner shall execute the sureties on showing the receipt of the said amount.

(iii)the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at

10.30 a.m., for a period of one month and thereafter as and when required for interrogation;

(iv)the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness;

(v)the petitioner shall not abscond during trial;

(vi)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 is 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].

(vii)If the accused thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 BNS, 2023.

(K M S J)

19.08.2026 VSG TO

1.The learned Judicial Magistrate, Rajapalayam.

2.The Officer-in-Charge, Sub Jail, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Dhalavaipuram Police Station, Virudhunagar District.

¶4The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. K.MURALI SHANKAR,J., VSG ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.17961 of 2026 Date : 19/08/2026