Prabakar @ Thakkali Praba v. State Rep By

T.V.THAMILSELVI, J.

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 30.03.2022 for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C), 29(1) and 25 of NDPS Act @ Section 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C), 29(1) and 25 of NDPS Act in C.C.No.171 of 2022 in connection with Crime No.178 of 2022, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on receiving a secret information, the respondent Police along with his team went to the scene of occurrence and they found the accused were in illegal possession of 21.300 kgs of Ganja. The respondent has seized the contraband, arrested the accused and also registered a case against the accused. Hence the case.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this

case. He further submitted that the case has been taken up on the file of the learned Principal Special Judge for Exclusive NDPS cases, Chennai in C.C.No.171 of 2022 and also stated that the case is still pending and the petitioner is in custody from 30.03.2022. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

4. Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) submitted that the petitioner along with the other accused were involved in illegal transportation of 21.300 kgs of Ganja, which is a commercial quantity. He also stated that the final report has been filed and the case is taken up on the file of the learned Principal Special Judge for exclusive NDPS cases, Chennai in C.C.No.171 of 2022. He also submitted that there are 20 previous cases pending against him and if the petitioner is granted bail at this stage, there is a possibility of tampering the evidence. Hence, he vehemently opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) and perused the materials available on record.

6.Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and also taking note of the quantity of the contraband which is a commercial quantity and that the petitioner has got 20 previous cases, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. 7.Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. However, the learned trial Judge is directed to complete the trial as expeditiously as possible, preferable within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

05.01.2023 vkr

T.V.THAMILSELVI, J.

vkr 05.01.2023