Meenachi Sundaram v. State Rep. By The Inspector Of Police
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 12.02.2026 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR Crl.O.P.No.3313 of 2026 Meenachi Sundaram ... Petitioner -vsState Rep by, The Inspector of Police, Kuniyamuthur Police Station, Coimbatore District.
(Crime No.11 of 2026) ... Respondent Prayer:- Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.11 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police.
For Petitioner :
Mr.M.N.Balakrishnan For Respondent :
Mr.A.Gopinath Government Advocate (Crl. Side) *********
ORDER
The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 11.01.2026 for the alleged offences punishable under Section 24(1) of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 and 123 of BNS, 2023 in Crime No.11 of 2026, registered on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.
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2. The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner was involved in possession and sale of 40 kilograms of banned Tobacco Products in his petty shop. Hence, the complaint.
3. Earlier, this Court dismissed the bail petition in Crl.OP.No.2262 of 2026 dated 02.02.2026 on the following reasons: "6. Considering the nature of the allegations, the fact that the petitioner has three previous cases, pending against him, that the petitioner was arrested very recently, and that 40 kilograms of tobacco products were seized from his petty shop, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner."
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is not having any previous case, and false submissions were made by this court while dismissing the earlier bail petition. The copy of the FIR is also produced to substantiate the same. Hence, he prays to grant bail.
5. Considering the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.
6. Accordingly, 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 Court No.IV, Coimbatore, and on further conditions that:
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[a] 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 shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of three weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation. [c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;
[d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness 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];
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[f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.
12.02.2026 drl Note:
1. Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court.
2. All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in 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.
To 1.The Judicial Magistrate Court No.IV, Coimbatore.
2.The Inspector of Police, Kuniyamuthur Police Station, Coimbatore District.
3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Coimbatore.
4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
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K. RAJASEKAR, J.
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