O.Balamurugan v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

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

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL O.Balamurugan ... Petitioner/Accused No.11 Vs The State of Tamil Nadu Rep By, The Inspector of Police, Usilampatti Town Police Station, Madurai District.

Cr.No.359 of 2021. ... Respondent/Respondent PRAYER :- To enlarge the petitioner on bail in C.C.No.816/2022 in connection with the Cr.No.359 of 2021 on the file of the Principal Special Court for Trial of NDPS Act Cases, Madurai District and thus render justice.

For Petitioner : P.Rengaraju, Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.B.Nambi Selvan, Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

The petitioner / A11, who was arrested and remanded to judicial 1/4

custody on 25.11.2024 for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(c) and 25 of NDPS Act, 1985, in Crime No.359 of 2021 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 30.07.2021, on the secret information, the respondent police went to the place of occurrence. On seeing the police party, the accused No.1 to 10 tried to escape from the scene of occurrence. However, the respondent police nabbed them except three persons. On searching, the accused were found in illegal possession of 240 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 only based on the confession made by the co-accused, the petitioner was implicated in this case and the petitioner has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 25.11.2024. Therefore, prayed to grant bail for the petitioner.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent strongly opposed to grant bail to the petitioner on the ground 2/4

that the quantity involved in this case is a commercial quantity and the petitioner is having 1 previous case similar in nature.

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, nature of offence, and the quantity involved in this case is a commercial quantity and the petitioner is having 1 previous case similar in nature and considering the gravity of the offence, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 08.04.2026 dss 3/4

P. DHANABAL,J DSS To 1.The Inspector of Police, Usilampatti Town Police Station, Madurai District.

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

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.17063 of 2025 Date : 08/04/2026 4/4