Subodh Sahni v. State Of Tamilnadu Represented By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 12-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Subodh Sahni ..Petitioner Vs State of Tamilnadu represented by, Inspector of police, NIB CID, Coimbatore, Crime No.17 of 2026.

..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to grant the bail to the petitioner in Crime No. 17 of 2026 on the file of respondent police.

For Petitioner:

Mr.K.Sudhakar For Respondent:

Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu (Criminal Side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 19.04.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(B) and 29(1) of the NDPS Act, 1985, in Crime No.17 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on receipt of secret information regarding transportation of narcotic drugs, the respondent police monitored the Coimbatore Railway Junction on 19.04.2026. On suspicion, two persons were intercepted and upon search of their bags, 6.500 kilograms of ganja and 500 grams of ganja chocolates were recovered. Hence, the case was registered.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case. It is further submitted that the petitioner has nothing to do with the alleged offence and has been in judicial custody from 19.04.2026. The learned counsel would further submit that the quantity involved is only an intermediate quantity and the petitioner has no criminal antecedents. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that according to the prosecution, the quantity involved is intermediate in nature. It is also fairly submitted that there are no previous cases against the petitioner.

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

6. From the submission of the learned counsel on either side, it is seen that the petitioner has no previous criminal antecedents and the quantity involved is intermediate in nature. The occurrence took place on 19.04.2026 and the petitioner has been in incarceration from the said date. Taking into consideration the involvement of intermediate quantity, absence of criminal antecedents and the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner since 19.04.2026, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail, subject to certain conditions.

7. 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, out of which one surety must be a blood related surety, for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional District Judge/Presiding Officer, Special Court for Essential Commodities Act Cases, Coimbatore and subject to the following conditions: [a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the Application for Surety ship [Judicial 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 report before the respondent police twice a day at 10.30 a.m. and 05.30 p.m. for a period of one month and thereafter as and when required for interrogation;

[c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

[d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [e] on breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions had been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court itself, as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)13 SCC 283];

[f] if the petitioner thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR may be registered under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

12-06-2026 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 Additional District Judge/Presiding Officer, Special Court for Essential Commodities Act cases, Coimbatore.

2. The Central Prison, Coimbatore.

3. The Inspector of Police, NIB CID, Coimbatore.

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

NSL 12-06-2026