Senthilkumar v. The State Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 06/08/2025 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. VADAMALAI Senthilkumar, S/o.Sivakumar ... Petitioner/A1 Vs The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by, the Inspector of Police, CSCID - Madurai, Virudhunagar Police Station, Virudhunagar District.
(Crime No.97 of 2025) ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.M.Prabu, Advocate For Respondent : Mr.S.Prakash, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.97 of 2025 on the file of the Respondent Police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner/A1, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police 1/6
for the offences punishable under Section 6(4) of Tamil Nadu Scheduled Commodities (RDCS) Order, 1982 r/w. Section 7(1)(a)(ii) of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 in Crime No.97 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.
2. The case of the prosecution is that on 04.07.2025, the de-facto complainant, along with other police officials, was conducting vehicle checks near Oothupatti Vilaku to prevent the illegal transportation of PDS rice. At that time, they searched a TATA Ace vehicle bearing Registration No.TN-19-BX-8505 and found 29 plastic bags, each containing 50 kilograms of PDS rice. Upon enquiry, the 2nd accused confessed that the petitioner/A1 is the owner of the vehicle and that, on his instructions, the 2nd accused had illegally transported the PDS rice to various nearby villages for sale. Hence, the present case.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He has been falsely implicated in this case solely based on the confession of the 2nd accused. He further submitted that A2 was arrested and subsequently released on bail. He, however, submitted that the petitioner is willing to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail for the petitioner.
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4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. side) submitted that there are totally two accused persons in this case and the petitioner has been arrayed as A1. A2 was arrested and subsequently released on bail. The entire properties have been recovered. He further submitted that there are two previous cases of a similar nature registered against the petitioner. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
5. Taking into consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of the offence, and also taking note of the fact that the entire properties have already been recovered, and that the co-accused was arrested and subsequently released on bail, and that as the date of occurrence is 04.07.2025, by this time most of the investigation might have been completed, this court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions.
6. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Virudhunagar, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the respondent police or the police officer who intends to arrest or to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Virudhunagar, 3/6
failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further condition 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 deposit a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) to the credit of Environmental Committee operated by Registrar (Judicial) Account No.7633863037, MICR Code: 625019020, CIF No.30602376727, IFSC Code IDIBH040, High Court Branch, Madurai, as Non-refundable deposit and on such deposit being made, the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Virudhunagar shall accept the sureties furnished by the petitioner; (c) the petitioner shall furnish his residential address and mobile number to the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Virudhunagar. In the event of any change in his residential address, the petitioner shall report the same to the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Virudhunagar;
(d) the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m. until further orders;
(e) the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;
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(f) the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; (g) 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 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] and; (h) if the accused/petitioner thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS, 2023.
sd/- 06/08/2025 / TRUE COPY / / /2025 Sub-Assistant Registrar ( C.S. I / II / III / IV ) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.
mkn TO 1.The Judicial Magistrate No.I, Virudhunagar. 2.The Inspector of Police, CSCID - Madurai, Virudhunagar Police Station, Virudhunagar District.
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3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
COPY TO:
THE SECTION OFFICER, ACCOUNTS SECTION, MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI.
ORDER
IN CRL OP(MD) No.13051 of 2025 Date :06/08/2025 SBN/25.08.2025 6P/5C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 6/6