Munippan v. State Rep By Its

Crl.O.P.No.18497 of 2022 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

The petitioner apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the alleged offence punishable under Sections 7, 20(1) of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 and Section 328 of IPC, in Crime No.150 of 2022, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that petitioner along with the other accused persons were in possession of 9,092 Kgs of banned tobacco products worth about Rs.52,03,978/-. Hence, the complaint.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that there are totally 4 accused, in which the petitioner is arrayed as A4. He has been implicated as an accused only on the confession statement of the co-accused. He is the owner of the vehicle bearing registration No.TN 22 DH 1792. A1 to A3 were already arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Subsequently, released on bail. Therefore, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is doesn't required in this case and prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. Whereas, the learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing

for the respondent produced the confession statement of the co-accused and it revealed that only on the instructions of the petitioner, who is the owner of the lorry, the other accused persons acted upon and they were in illegal possession of 9,000 Kgs of banned tobacco products worth about several Lakhs.

5. Therefore, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is very much required in this case and this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

6. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 17.08.2022 mpl

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

mpl Crl.O.P.No.18497 of 2022 17.08.2022