Ranjith v. The State Of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 08/04/2025 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL Ranjith ... Petitioner/Accused No.3 Vs The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police, Neyveli Police Station, Cuddalore District.

Crime No.258 of 2024..

... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy, Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.R.Meenakshi Sundaram, Additional Public Prosecutor PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Bail in Crime No.258 of 2024 on the file of the Respondent-Police. 1/5

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner on 03.03.2025 under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, praying to grant bail.

2. The petitioner / Accused No.3 was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 07.12.2024 for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) and 20(b)(ii) (C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as "the NDPS Act") in connection with Crime No.258 of 2024 on the file of the respondent-Police.

3. The case of the prosecution is that on 07.12.2024, at about 14.00 hours, based on secret information, the respondent along with his team, was conducting an inspection near Veeran Koil, Neyveli, Cuddalore District. At that time, the petitioner and other Accused Person were standing near Veeran Koil Neyveli, Cuddalore District. The respondent-police made a search on them and enquired. Upon enquiry, the police noticed that the petitioner along with other accused persons were in illegal possession of 21.500 kgs of Ganja(Contraband). Thereafter, the respondent-police arrested the accused persons and seized ganja. Hence, the case.

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4. Mr.D.Rajaboopathy, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case and he did not commit any offence as alleged. He further submits that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. He further submits that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 07.12.2024. He further submits that based on the confession of co-accused, the petitioner has been arrayed as A3. He therefore prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. Per contra, Mr.R.Meenakshi Sundaram, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-Police, submits that the respondent-Police is awaiting for CDR particulars and other details. He further submits that the investigation not yet completed, at this stage, if the petitioner is released on bail, there is a possibility of absconding and thereby, the investigation proceedings will be delayed. He further submits that the contraband recovered from the accused persons is of commercial quantity. Hence, he vehemently opposes to grant bail to the petitioner.

6. Heard on both sides. This Court has perused the records. 7.From the records, it is seen that the respondent-Police is awaiting for CDR particulars and other details. The respondent-Police seized 21.500 kgs of ganja on the spot from the accused persons, which constitutes a commercial quantity. The 3/5

petitioner has not established a prima facie case for the grant of bail. The investigation not yet completed, at this stage, if bail is granted to the petitioner, he may abscond and thereby delaying the investigation proceedings. Considering the cumulative circumstances, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage.

8.Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. sd/- 08/04/2025 / TRUE COPY / /05/2025 Sub-Assistant Registrar ( C.S. I / II / III / IV ) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

vsg TO 1.The Inspector of Police, Neyveli Police Station, Cuddalore District.

2. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Cuddalore.

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

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ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.4120 of 2025 Date :08/04/2025 VN/27.05.2025 /5P/4C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 5/5