Murugaiah v. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Sankarankovil Town

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 08/04/2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE L. VICTORIA GOWRI Murugaiah ... Petitioner Vs State of Tamilnadu Rep by Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Town Police Station, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District.

Crime No.15/2026.

... Respondent PRAYER :- To call for the records relating to the judgment dated 12.02.2026 passed in Crl MP NO.67/2026 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court, Sankarankovil and set aside the rejection order to grant of interim custody of the seized vehicle therein, by allowing this Criminal Revision Case.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.A.Ganapathyraman, Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.S.Ravi Additional Public Prosecutor 1/5

ORDER

Seeking to challenge the impugned order passed by the Learned Judicial Magistrate, Sankarankovil, passed in Crl.M.P.No.67 of 2026 dated 12.02.2026, this Criminal Revision Case is filed.

2. The petitioner has filed a petition for return of property seeking the custody of Yamaha Cygnus Ray(two wheeler) vehicle bearing Registration No.TN 79 P 4390, seized by the responent police in Crime No.15 of 2026 under Section 4(1)(C) of TNP Act. However, the trial Court had dismissed the same observing that this vehicle has not been produced before the trial Court, but confiscation proceeding under Section 14(4) of the TNP Act has already been initiated by the police, pursuant to which a show cause notice has also been served upon the petitioner. Since a confiscation proceedings has been initiated, the learned trial Court was of the opinion that an order of grant of interim custody of the seized vehicle could not be passed and directed the petitioner to appear and give reply with regard to the show cause notice. Challenging the same this Criminal Revision case is filed. 2/5

3. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the petitioner has already received the show cause notice on 30.01.2026 and the same was also fairly conceded by the learned counsel for the petitioner. He further pointed out that he duly responded to the same by giving a reply on 05.02.2026. Even after a lapse of 2 months, now still the matter is kept pending.

4. In view of the above submissions, the petitioner is directed to further cooperate with the ongoing confiscation proceeding. The confiscation officer / Additional Superintendent of Police, Tenkasi District, is directed to conclude the same within a period of three weeks from the date of copy of this order. It is made clear that until the conclusion of the confiscation proceeding by the confiscation officer, the property should be kept safe. It is also made clear that the confiscation officers shall consider Interim custody of vehicle, if any application is filed by the petitioner herein before the confiscation officer, in accordance with law.

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5. With the above direction, this Criminal Revision Case is disposed of. No costs.

08.04.2026 NCC : yes / no Index : yes / no Note : Issue order copy on 09.04.2026 pnn To 1.The Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Town Police Station, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District. Crime No.15/2026. 2.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

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L. VICTORIA GOWRI,J pnn

ORDER

IN CRL RC(MD) No.622 of 2026 Date : 08/04/2026 5/5