Puthuraja v. The State Rep By Its,

Crl.O.P.No.5007 of 2023 Crl.O.P.No.5007 of 2023 T.V.THAMILSELVI, J.

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 28.09.2021 for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(c) and 29(1) of NDPS Act, in Crime No.1139 of 2021, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 27.09.2021, on the information the respondent police went to Maduravoyal Byepass, Odamanagar Bridge, when Maruthi Car taken a U-turn bearing Registration No.AP-35-G4361 was intercepted and searched the vehicle seized 186 kgs of Ganja from the car and a case was registered against the petitioner and remanded to judicial custody.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that the petitioner was arrested on 28.09.2021 and he is in judicial custody for the past one and half years. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent would submit that the petitioner along with other accused in 1/2 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

Crl.O.P.No.5007 of 2023 T.V.THAMILSELVI, J.

gbi possession of 186 kgs of Ganja. He would further submit that the investigation has been completed and final report has also been filed and the case has been taken on file in C.C.No.158 of 2022 for trial. He would submit that there are 11 witnesses in this case and that if a direction is given to the respondent, they will be able to complete the trial as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. Taking into consideration the facts and submissions made by the learned counsels and also considering the fact that the contraband involved in this case is commercial quantity, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, however, a direction is issued to the learned Trial Judge to complete the trial in C.C.No.158 of 2022, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. With the above direction, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed.

gbi 03.03.2023 Crl.O.P.No.5007 of 2023 2/2 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis