S.Sumathi v. The State Represented By Its Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 25-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN S.Sumathi ..Petitioner Vs The State Rep. by its Inspector of Police, Arakkonam Town Police Station, Arakkonam, Ranipet, Tamil Nadu.

..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to grant bail to the petitioner who has been arrested by the respondent police on 14.05.2026 for offences under Section 4(1) (C) and 4(1-A)(ii) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition (Amendment ) Act, 2024. For Petitioner:

Mr.R.Ravi 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 14.05.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 4(1)(C) and 4(1-A)(ii) of Tamilnadu Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2024 in Crime No.252 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 4.320 liters of liquor bottles. Hence, the case was registered.

3. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and she has not committed any offence as alleged by the defacto complainant and she has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that she is ready to abide by any conditions 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 police reiterated the prosecution case and would submit that the petitioner has got sixteen previous cases. 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. This Court is of the view that though the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) would submit that the petitioner has got sixteen previous cases, considering the long incarceration of the petitioner since 14.05.2026 and also considering that petitioner being a women, 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 for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate - I, Arakkonam, 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 daily at 10.30 a.m. for a period of two weeks 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.

25-06-2026 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, Arakkonam.

2. Women's Central Prison, Vellore.

3. The Inspector of Police, Arakkonam Town Police Station, Arakkonam, Ranipet, Tamil Nadu.

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

NSL 25-06-2026