Sulaiman v. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Cscid

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 21/04/2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL Sulaiman ... Petitioner/Accused Rank Not Known Vs State of Tamilnadu Rep by, The Inspector of Police, Civil Supplies C.I.D., Uthamapalayam.

Crime No.98/2026. ... Respondent/Complainant PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.98/2026 on the file of the respondent police For Petitioner : Yogeswaran S, Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.M.Karunanithi, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the 1/6

respondent for the offences punishable under Sections 6(4) of TNSC (FDCS) Order 1982, r/w 7(1)(a)(ii) of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, in Crime No.98 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 10.04.2026, a lorry bearing Reg.No.KL-39-G-5182 was found to be loaded with 240 bags of rice (each containing 50 kgs). The petitioner herein is the owner of the vehicle. Hence, this case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent and he was falsely implicated in this case and he has no way connected in the above said incident. He would further submit that already the co-accused were arrested and released on bail and only based on the confession made by the co-accused, the petitioner was arrayed as an accused and no previous case is pending against the petitioner. Hence, he prays to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) would submit that the petitioner is the owner of the lorry bearing Reg.No.KL-392/6

G-5182, which was involved in the transportation of PDS rice and at the instigation of the petitioner only, the other accused transported 240 bags of rice (each containing 50 kgs) and hence, he is the main accused. Hence, he opposes to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. He would further submit that the investigation is still pending and A1 & A2 were arrested and released on bail and A3 is absconding and based on the confession made by the co-accused, the petitioner was arrayed as an accused and 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, and the petitioner is only the owner of the vehicle and the alleged PDS rice was transported by A1 to A3 and A1 & A2 were already arrested and released on bail and only based on their confession, the petitioner was arrayed as an accused and no previous case is pending against the petitioner, 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 3/6

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, Uthamapalayam, and on further conditions that:

[b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police, every Saturday at 10.30 a.m. for a period of four weeks, and thereafter as and when required for the interrogation.

[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 4/6

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.

21.04.2026 dss To 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Uthamapalayam.

2.The Inspector of Police, Civil Supplies C.I.D., Uthamapalayam.

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

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P. DHANABAL,J dss

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.7534 of 2026 Date : 21/04/2026 6/6