Selvam v. The State Rep.By

T.V.THAMILSELVI,J.

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 03.10.2020 for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B), 25 and 29(1) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Act, 1985, in Crime No.1169 of 2020 on file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on receiving a secret information, the respondent and his team went to the scene of occurrence, wherein they found that the accused was in illegal possession of 25.500 kilograms of Ganja. Hence the case.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and this is his third bail application before this Court. He further submitted that earlier this Court had dismissed the bail applications filed by this petitioner in Crl.O.P.Nos.11101 & 15069 of 2021 vide orders dated 29.06.2021 & 24.08.2021. He further submitted that the petitioner is in custody from 03.10.2020 and he is ready to abide by any stringent conditions

that may be imposed by this Court. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the petitioner.

4. Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police submitted that the petitioner along with other accused was found to be in illegal possession of 25.500 kilograms of Ganja and as far as this petitioner is concerned, 21 kilograms of Ganja was recovered from him, which is a commercial quantity. He further submitted that this is the third bail application of this petitioner and there is no change in circumstances, hence, he vehemently opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the respondent and perused the entire materials available on record.

6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, the submissions made by the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) that there is no change in circumstances, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. However, the learned trial Judge is directed to complete the trial as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

14.02.2023 ham

T.V.THAMILSELVI,J.

ham 14.02.2023