Ritesh Lamba v. The State Rep.By, The Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 08.10.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR Crl.O.P.No.17426 of 2025 Ritesh Lamba ... Petitioner Vs.

State Rep by The Inspector of Police RS Puram Police Station Coimbatore District ... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail pending investigation in Crime No.155 of 2025 on the file of respondent police. For Petitioners : Mr.John Sathyan Senior Advocate for Mr.P.Divakar For Respondent : Mr.A.Gopinath Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

O R D E R

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 28.03.2025, for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B), 22(b), 22(c), 25 and 29(1) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and under Section 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(c) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937 in Crime No. 155 of 2025, on the file of the respondent police, 1/4

seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 27.03.2025, at about 5.00 am, based on the secret information, the respondent police went to the scene of occurrence and found that petitioner along with other accused persons were found in illegal possession of 92.43 grams of Cocaine, 36.87 grams of MDMA and 4.316 kgs of Ganja. Hence, the case.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case, however, he is suffering incarceration from 28.03.2025. He submits that there is no recovery from this petitioner and the co-accused/A5 and A7 in this case was enlarged on bail by this Court in Crl.O.P.Nos.13093 and 14861 of 2025. He further submitted that the petitioner is ready to abide by any stringent condition that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner.

4.

The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent, while opposing for grant of bail to the petitioner, reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that this is a 3rd bail application and the earlier bail applications were dismissed by the lower court. He submits that co-accused/A1 to A4 had filed bail applications before this Court and the 2/4

same were dismissed on 15.09.2025 in Crl.O.P.Nos.15504, 15602, 18687 & 15631 of 2025. He further submits that petitioner is the supplier of the contraband. Hence, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the allegation against the petitioner, taking note of the submission made by the learned Government Advocate (Crl.side), this Court finds that the order passed by this Court dismissing the bail applications filed by A1 to A4 on the ground that the contraband were recovered directly from them and the reason could not be applicable to this petitioner. This Court in Crl.O.P.No.13093 of 2025 and Crl.O.P.No.14861 of 2025, granted bail to Accused No.5 and Accused No.7, who are similarly placed to the petitioner herein and order passed in these petitions and reasons stated are squarely applicable to the petitioner. Hence, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. 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-I, Coimbatore District and on further conditions that:

[a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the Application for Surety ship [Judicial 3/4

Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019']. The learned Magistrate shall obtain a copy of any one of the identity proofs to ensure their identity; [b] the petitioner shall appear before the respondent police daily at 10.30 am., until further orders. [c] On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned 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)13 SCC 283];

[d] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S.

08.10.2025 kmm 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 4/4

when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code.

To

1. The Judicial Magistrate-I, Coimbatore.

2. The Inspector of Police RS Puram Police Station Coimbatore District

3. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Coimbatore.

4. The Public Prosecutor High Court, Madras.

K.RAJASEKAR , J.

kmm 5/4

Crl.O.P.No.17426 of 2025 08.10.2025 6/4