Murugan v. The State Of Tamilnadu Rep By The Inspector Of Police, Andipatti

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 10.04.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL CRL OP(MD). No. 7164 of 2026 Murugan ... Petitioner Vs State of Tamil Nadu rep. by The Inspector of Police, Andipatti Police Station, Theni District.

(Crime No.279 of 2026)

...Respondents/Complainant

For Petitioner : Mr.P.Senguttuarasan Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.M.Karunanithi Government Advocate (Crl. side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Cr.No. 279 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police.

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent for the offences punishable under Section 77 of JJ Act, 2015 and Section 24(i), 6(a) of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Acts, 2003, in Crime No.279 of 1/6

2026, on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail. (When the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that provision was wrongly mentioned in the petition as '24(j)' instead of '24(i)'. The same is corrected.)

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 12.03.2026, on secret information, the respondent authorities went to the spot and found the petitioner was in possession of certain illegal banned substances worth about Rs.1,80,000/-. Hence, the case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and he was falsely implicated in this case and he is no way connected in the above said incident. He has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Only based on the confessions statement of co-accused, the petitioner was arrayed as accused. Hence, he prays to grant Anticipatory Bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) fairly submits that the offences are grave in nature. The petitioner along with other accused in possession of contraband worth about Rs.1,80,000/-. Hence, he vehemently 2/6

opposed the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, as the investigation is still pending. However, the petitioner has no previous case.

5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

6. Considering the rival submissions on either side and the nature of offences charged against the petitioner, that on the basis of the confession statement of the co-accused, the petitioner was arrayed as accused, co-accused was arrested and released on bail, that there is no previous case against the petitioner, and also considering all other facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions:

[a] Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on anticipatory bail on condition to 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 learned Judicial Magistrate, Aundipatti, Theni District, and on further conditions that: [b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police, at 10.30 a.m., on every Saturday, for a period of four weeks, thereafter, as and when required for interrogation; 3/6

[c] the petitioner shall not commit any offences of similar nature.

[d] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial.

[e] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial.

[f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Judicial 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 petitioner 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]. [g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.

(P D B J) 10.04.2026 TM To 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Aundipatti, Theni District. 2.The Inspector of Police, Andipatti Police Station, Theni District.

(Crime No.279 of 2026) 4/6

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

5/6

P. DHANABAL, J.

TM

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No. 7164 of 2026 Date : 10.04.2026 6/6