Crl.O.P.(MD)No.9579 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 02.06.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL CRL OP(MD). No. 9579 of 2026 Manikandan ... Petitioner Vs State of Tamil Nadu rep. by The Inspector of Police, Gudalur South Police Station, Theni District. (Crime No.151 of 2026) ...Respondents/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.S.Manojkumar Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.G.Ganesh Kumar Government Advocate (Crl. side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Cr.No. 151 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 Sections 271 and 132 of BNS r/w. 6(b), 24(1) of COTPA Act, in Crime No.151 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police, 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.(MD)No.9579 of 2026 seeks anticipatory bail. 2. The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant found the A3 with 36 kgs. of banned tobacco, which were being sold in the petty shop of the petitioner. 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. This petitioner was arrayed as accused only on the basis of the confession statement of the co-accused. Hence, he prays to grant Anticipatory Bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) submits that the offences are grave in nature. The A1 was arrested and on his confession the other accused persons have been implicated in this case. Act 14 was initiated against the A1. A3 was also arrested. There are two previous cases pending against the petitioner. He vehemently opposed the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.(MD)No.9579 of 2026 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, the petitioner was arrayed as an accused on the basis of the confession statement of the co-accused, the contraband was recovered from the co-accused and there is no direct recovery from this petitioner and though the petitioner has two previous cases, in all those cases he was granted bail, and 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, Uthamapalayam, Theni District, and on further conditions that: [b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of thirty days, thereafter as and when required for interrogation; [c] the petitioner shall not commit any offences of similar nature. 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.(MD)No.9579 of 2026 [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) 02.06.2026 TM To 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Uthamapalayam, Theni District. 2.The Inspector of Police, Gudalur South Police Station, Theni District. 3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.(MD)No.9579 of 2026 P. DHANABAL, J. TM ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No. 9579 of 2026 Date : 02.06.2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis