Kannadasan v. State Rep. By The Forest Range Officer,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 10.10.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR Kannadasan ... Petitioner Vs.

The State Rep. By, The Forest Ranger, Tirupattur Range, Tirupattur District.

STOR.No.6 of 2025 ... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest in STOR No.6 of 2025 on the file of the respondent.

For Petitioner :

Mr.E.Kannadasan For Respondent :

Mr.A.Gopinath, Government Advocate (Criminal Side)

O R D E R

The petitioner herein apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offence punishable under Sections 35(b)(d), 35-A and B(a), 1/4

41-(1)(2)(3)(a)(b), 49-A(1)(2), 3(a)(b), 51, 56, 56-E of the Tamil Nadu Forest Vth Act 1882, and under Section 9-(a)(b) of the Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules, 1968, in STOR No.6 of 2025, on the file of the respondent, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner, along with the other accused, was involved in the illegal transportation of 826 kg of red sandalwood. While they were preparing to transport it to another location, the police party apprehended them red-handed and arrested one of the accused. However, the petitioner escaped from the scene of occurrence. Hence, the complaint.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been implicated in this case solely based on the confession of the first accused (A1) and that he has no previous criminal antecedents. Hence, he prayed for the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that there are 2/4

totally three accused in this case, and the petitioner is ranked as A2. He further submitted that the quantity involved in this case is worth about Rs.27 lakhs, that the petitioner has two previous cases, and that the investigation is still pending while the arrested accused remains in custody. Hence, he opposed the grant of bail.

5. Considering the nature of the allegations and the fact that the petitioner is also actively participated and having bad antecedents, this Court is of the view that if bail is granted, there is a likelihood of the petitioner involving himself in similar offences. Hence, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

6. Accordingly, this criminal original petition stands dismissed. 10.10.2025 cda 3/4

K.RAJASEKAR, J.

cda To 1.The Forest Ranger, Tirupattur Range, Tirupattur District.

2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

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