Lakshmanan v. The State Of Tamilnadu Rep.By Its

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 30.03.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL Lakshmanan

...Petitioner/Accused-5

Vs State of Tamil Nadu rep. by The Inspector of Police, Pappanadu Police Station, Thanjavur.

(Crime No. 416 of 2024 )

...Respondent/Complainant

For Petitioner : Mr.A.Uthaya Kumar Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.B.Nambi Selvan Additional Public Prosecutor PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Bail in Cr.No. 416 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police. 1/5

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner / Accused, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 25.12.2024 for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C), 29(2)(a) and 25 of NDPS Act, 1985 in Crime No. 416 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 25.12.2024, the petitioner and other accused were in illegal joint possession of 128.397 kg of ganja. Hence the case.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and he was falsely implicated in this case and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that the petitioner is the driver of the vehicle and he has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 25.12.2024. Therefore, prayed to grant bail for the petitioner.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent would admit that the petitioner is the driver of the vehicle 2/5

where the contraband was seized. He would further submit that the petitioner has no previous case. He would further submit that the investigation is completed and charge sheet was filed and the offences are grave in nature and hence, he strongly opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. This Court heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

6. Considering the rival submissions made by the learned counsel on either side, and considering the facts that the quantity of contraband involved in this case is commercial quantity and the contraband was recovered from the car of this petitioner and considering the gravity of offence, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. (P D B J) 30.03.2026 apd 3/5

To 1.The Inspector of Police, Pappanadu Police Station, Thanjavur.

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

4/5

P. DHANABAL, J apd

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No. 14048 of 2025 Date : 30.03.2026 5/5