Jetu Hantal v. The State Rep By,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR Jetu Hantal S/o. Raju Mantal, Mulaput, Panasaput, Malkangiri, Odisha- 764 052.

..Petitioner(s) Vs The State rep by, Inspector of Police, Walajapet Police Sation, Ranipet District.

Crime No.248 of 2025 ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Criminal Original Petition is filed seeking to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.248 of 2025 on the file of the Respondent police and pass such further or other orders.

For Petitioner(s):

M/s.K.S. Karthik Raja For Respondent(s):

Mr.A.Gopinath Government Advocate (Criminal Side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 21.06.2025, for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C) & 29(1) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, on the file of respondent police, seeks bail.

2.The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner joined hands with four other accused involved in transportation of 150 kgs of Ganja from Odisha to Katpadi (AP), and to bring it in Tamil Nadu. The respondent police searched the accused in a passenger train and alighted in the Talangai Railway Station while they were attempting to get an order for the transportation of 5 big bags containing 150 kgs of Ganja, the accused were intercepted by the respondent police, and after compliance of the mandatory provisions of the NDPS Act, and after recording the confession statement from the petitioner and he was arrested on 21.06.2025.

3.The learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that there is no clarity on time in the FIR and recovery has also been made. Further, it is only stated that A1 had purchased 150 kgs of Ganja and there is no mentioned about the role of the petitioner herein. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

4.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the final report is filed. It is a case of transportation of 150 kgs of Ganja and 30 kgs of Ganja belongs to each of the accused and admittedly, the petitioner was also travelled along with A1 to A5. Hence, under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, is applicable and no ground is made for granting bail to the petitioner. 5.I have also gone through the FIR and other connected materials. It is alleged that the petitioner herein travelled along with other co-accused and also with banned contraband and caught red-handedly by the respondent police. It is a case of commercial quantity under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985, is applicable to the facts of the present case and no ground to satisfy under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985 has been made out to the petitioner. Hence, this Court is not inclined to allow the above petition.

6. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 09-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order MSM

To The State rep by, Inspector of Police, Walajapet Police Sation, Ranipet District.

Crime No.248 of 2025 2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

K.RAJASEKAR, J.

MSM 09-02-2026