Mahendra Kumar v. The State Rep By, The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 01-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Mahendra Kumar ..Petitioner Vs The State Rep. by, The Inspector of Police, Villupuram Taluk Police Station, Villupuram District.

Crime No.179 of 2026 ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.179 of 2026 pending investigation on the file of the respondent. For Petitioner:

Mr.E.Kannadasan For Respondent:

Mr.N.Palanivel Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 16.04.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 123, 274, 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 r/w 24(1) of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, in Crime No.179 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner was found in possession of 16,500 packets of Hans and 4,560 packets of Cool Lip. Hence, the case was registered.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner, pleading innocence on the part of the petitioner, who has been in incarceration since 16.04.2026 and false implication in the case, seeks indulgence of this Court. He submits that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that the petitioner is ready to abide by any stringent condition that may be imposed by this Court. Therefore, he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that the petitioner has one previous case against him and huge quantity of banned tobacco products was recovered from him. Hence, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side.

6. Considering the submission of the learned counsel on either side and considering the huge quantity of banned tobacco products recovered from the petitioner and the nature of the allegations, this Court is of the view that this is not an appropriate stage to enlarge the petitioner on bail.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 01-06-2026 NSL 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 learned Judicial Magistrate-I, Villupuram.

2. The Inspector of Police, Villupuram Taluk Police Station, Villupuram District.

3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

NSL 01-06-2026