Mannu v. The Additional Chief Secretary To The Government,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 28.10.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN Mannu S/o.Chellappan, No.239, Ambedkar Colony, K.K.Nagar, Chennai.
Petitioner(s) Vs 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise (XVI) Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater, Chennai.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison Puzhal, Chennai District.
4.The Inspector of Police, (Law and Order) R-6, Kumaran Police Station, Chennai District.
Respondent(s)
Habeas Corpus Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records connected with the detention order in No.405/BCDFGISSSV/2025 dated 26.06.2025 on the file of the second respondent and quash the same and direct the respondents to produce the petitioner's son viz. Karthik @ Kotta Karthik, S/o.Mannu, aged about 26 years, now confined at Central Prison, Puzhal before this Court and set him at liberty.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.P.Muthamizhselvakumar For Respondent(s): Mr.A.Gokulakrishnan Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
(made by N.Sathish Kumar, J.) The petitioner, who is the father of the detenu Karthik @ Kotta Karthik, S/o.Mannu, aged about 26 years, has come forward with this petition challenging the detention order passed by the second respondent dated 26.06.2025 bearing reference No.405/BCDFGISSSV/2025 slapped on her son, branding him as "Drug Offender" under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum Grabbers and
Video Pirates Act, 1982 [Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982]. 2.
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. 3.
Though several grounds have been raised by the petitioner in the habeas corpus petition assailing the detention order, in the hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner confined his argument only with regard to non-application of mind on the part of the detaining authority in arriving at the subjective satisfaction regarding imminent possibility of detenu being enlarged on bail while passing the impugned order of detention. 4.
The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the detenu was arrested and remanded to judicial custody in connection with the ground case and four adverse cases. The detenu has not moved any bail application in respect of the ground case and therefore, there is no real possibility of the detenu coming out on bail in the near future. However, the detaining authority while passing the impugned detention order arrived at the subjective satisfaction regarding imminent possibility of coming out on bail by relying on a bail order in Crl.M.P.No.20525 of 2024. 5.
Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor submits that the order of detention has been passed on cogent and sufficient materials
and the same cannot be interfered with at the instance of the petitioner. 6.
A perusal of the detention order shows that the detenu has not moved any bail application in respect of the ground case and therefore, there is no real possibility of the detenu coming out on bail in the near future and therefore, the subjective satisfaction arrived at by the detaining authority regarding the imminent possibility of detenu being enlarged on bail shows clear non-application of mind. Therefore, the impugned preventive detention order deserves to be dislodged.
In the result, this Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the detention order passed by the second respondent dated 26.06.2025 in No.405/BCDFGISSSV/2025 is hereby set aside. The detenu Karthik @ Kotta Karthik, S/o.Mannu, aged about 26 years, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless he is required in connection with any other case. (N.S.K., J.) (M.J.R., J.) 28.10.2025 nsd Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes
To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise (XVI) Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater, Chennai.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison Puzhal, Chennai District.
4.The Inspector of Police, (Law and Order) R-6, Kumaran Police Station, Chennai District.
5.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Chennai.
6.The Joint Secretary to Government, Public (Law and Order), Fort St.George, Chennai - 9.
N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.
and M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.
nsd 28.10.2025