P. Jothi, v. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Cscid Dindigul

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 25.02.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY CRL OP(MD)No.2219 of 2026 P.Jothi ... Petitioner / Accused

Versus

The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police, CSCID-Madurai, Dindigul District.

(Crime No.20 of 2026) ... Respondent / Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.S.Kishore Kumar, Advocate For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Manoj, Government Advocate (Criminal Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.20 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police.

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ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner/accused, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Section 6(4) of the Tamil Nadu Scheduled Commodities (Regulation of Distribution by Card System) Order, 1982, and Section 7(1)(a)(ii) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, in Crime No. 20 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner was found in illegal possession of a huge quantity of PDS rice. Hence, the complaint.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that the petitioner will abide by any condition that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail for the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) submitted that this Court had already granted interim anticipatory bail, directing the 2/6

petitioner to report before the respondent police daily at 10:30 a.m. until 25.02.2026 and to cooperate with the investigation. He further submitted that, pursuant to the said order, the petitioner has cooperated with the investigation.

5. Taking into consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and since the petitioner has complied with the conditions imposed in the interim anticipatory bail regularly, the interim anticipatory bail already granted is made absolute and this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

6. Accordingly, this Petition is allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.III, Dindigul District, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs. 10,000/-(Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the respondent Police or to the Police Officer, who intends to arrest or to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate 3/6

concerned and on further conditions that:

(a) the petitioner and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity;

(b) the petitioner shall report before the respondent police as and when required for interrogation; (c) the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; (d) the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

(e) on breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/ Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioners released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji Vs. State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560]; and;

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(f) if the accused thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS 2023.

(S S Y J) 25.02.2026 pal To 1.The Judicial Magistrate No.III, Dindigul District.

2.The Inspector of Police, CSCID-Madurai, Dindigul District.

3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

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S.SRIMATHY,J.

pal

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.2219 of 2026 Date : 25.02.2026 6/6