Vikram Singh v. State By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 01-04-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN CRL OP NO.9465 of 2025 Vikram Singh S/o. Saval Singh ....Petitioner/Accused Vs State represented by The Inspector of Police, Harur Police Station, Dharmapuri District (Crime No.458 of 2024) ....Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest by the respondent police concerned in Crime No.458 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner : Mr. P.M. Jayachandran For Respondent : Mr. S.Balaji Government Advocate (Crl. Side) 1/6

ORDER

The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 123 of BNS,2023 r/w 24(1) of COTPA Act, 2003, in Crime No.458 of 2024, on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2.

The case of the prosecution is that, 24.09.2024, the petitioner along with the other accused persons was found illegally transporting 397 Kgs of Tobacco products in Mahindra XUV 500 car bearing Registration No.DD 03 H 0900 and that the petitioner, who is the driver of the said vehicle escaped from the scene. Hence, the case. 3.

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent; that he has been falsely implicated in the case based on the confession of the co-accused; that the petitioner was not involved in the said offence and that the petitioner is ready to furnish solvent sureties and to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and sought for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 2/6

4.

The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the the petitioner has no previous case; that the accused 1 and 2 had been arrested and released on bail and that the investigation is pending.

5. Considering, the nature of allegations against the petitioner, the fact that the contraband was seized from the accused 1 and 2; that the petitioner has no bad antecedents, and since custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required for the purpose of investigation, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner with certain conditions. 6.

Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Harur, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties each (out of two sureties one should be a blood relative and another one should be a local surety) for a like sum to the satisfaction of the respondent police or the police officer who intends to arrest or to the 3/6

satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further condition that: [a] the petitioner and 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., until further orders.

[c] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [d] the petitioner shall not abscond 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]. 4/6

[f] If the accused thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S. 01.04.2025 bga 5/6

SUNDER MOHAN, J.

bga To

1. The Judicial Magistrate, Harur.

2. The Inspector of Police, Harur Police Station, Dharmapuri District

3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

Crl.O.P. No.9465 of 2025 01.04.2025 6/6