Peter Latchahanhima v. Union Of India, Rep.By, The Intelligene Of Officer,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR Peter Latchahanhima S/o. Ngurchungnunga Latchawilliani, 2,Zalen Veng, Near Bus Station, Vaigengte, Kolasib, Mizoram - 796 1010 ..Petitioner(s) Vs Union of India, Rep.by, The Intelligene of Officer, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Chennai Zonal Unit, 27, G.N.Chetty Road, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017.

..Respondent(s) Prayer : Criminal Original Petition field under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in connection with the File No.DRI/CZU/VIII/48/D-Cell/ENQ-1/INT-29/2025 on the file of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Chennai Zonal unit and pass such further or other orders.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.Saurabh Mishra For Respondent(s):

Mr.P.Vishnu Special Public Prosecutor

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 05.10.2025, for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C), 21(c), 23(c), 25, 27A, 28 and 29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, on the file of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Chennai Zonal Unit, seeks bail.

2. The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner is ranked as A2 in this case and he has engaged by A1 to smuggle 4.105 kgs of methamphetamine for monetary benefit and accordingly, he booked a ticket from Cambodia to Chennai, via Singapore flight on 28.09.2025. After sending the contraband, the petitioner travelled in another flight and on the next day, he reached India. In the meantime, A1 was intercepted by the respondent police on specific information, and contraband was seized and the statement under Section 67 of NDPS Act, was also recorded, WhatsApp chats the mobile phone of A1 was also recovered. After arrival of A2, he was also intercepted and mobile phone was also recovered and based on the statement recorded from other co-accused, the petitioner herein has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that A1, who is a social media influencer, received money from the petitioner for promoting his social media. He was not aware of the possession and transportation of contraband by A1 and the petitioner herein has been falsely implicated in this case and he is ready to co-operate for the trial process. He further submitted that the petitioner is also infected with HIV positive and hence, to mitigate the disease, he requires to be released from prison and he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.

4. Mr.P.Vishnu, learned Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police submitted that the petitioner herein is the main accused in this case and he was financing the carrier, and was promising to pay a sum of Rs.2,00,000/-. Further, he made several payments to A1 through G-Pay to bring it to India and was also paid for ticket bookings. Further, the statement recorded from A1 revealed that, on the basis of various facts and evidence show that the petitioner is engaged with the contraband with A1 in this case. He further submitted that after A1's arrest, the petitioner deleted WhatsApp data between A1 and A2. WhatsApp call details show constant touch between them regarding transportation of contraband. He further submitted that on verification of the transactions and since it is a case of international smuggling,

investigation is pending and if bail is granted to the petitioner, he would tamper the investigation and therefore, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. I have considered the submissions made on both sides and perused the records. Though it is admitted by the petitioner herein that he made some payments to A1, since A1 is a social media influencer, there were some payments through WhatsApp and also on verification, it was found that the petitioner was in constant touch raised during the relevant period of transportation of banned contraband. It is also stated that they have recorded the statements under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, and there needs further investigation in the case of this nature.

Since this is a case of international smuggling, it is stated that the payments have been made by A2 to A1 in this case, whether these payments are made for social media persons or the payments for the transportation of banned contraband, will be revealed only after completion of investigation. Further, it is also alleged that the petitioner was involved in deleting the WhatsApp chats for the purpose of escaping from the clutches of law. If bail is granted to the petitioner, he would indulge in tampering the witnesses and evidence. Further, the investigation is not yet concluded and hence, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner on merits.

6.With regard to the medical grounds raised before this Court, it is alleged that the petitioner is suffering from HIV positive. However, there is no material produced before this Court to show that he is infected with HIV positive and as evidence at this stage, he could not withstand the period of remand. There are sufficient treatment facilities available for HIV patients in the prison itself and already, many inmates are undergoing treatment successfully in the prison hospital. Under these circumstances, this Court is not inclined to grant bail on the medical grounds also.

7.Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 09-02-2026 MSM To The Intelligene of Officer, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Chennai Zonal Unit, 27, G.N.Chetty Road, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017.

2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

K.RAJASEKAR, J.

MSM 09-02-2026