CRL OP No. 17242 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 07-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 17242 of 2026 Ragul Sukla S/o.Baskar, No.18, Thomas Arulthidal, Karaikal, Puducherry - 609 602 ..Petitioner/ Accused -2 Vs Inspector of Police Redhills PEW Police Station, Chennai District. Crime No.83/2025 ..Respondent/ Complainant Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under section 483 of BNSS to enlarge the petitioners on bail in Cr. No.83 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police For Petitioner(s): Mr. K.Shanmugam For Respondent(s): MR.S.YOGARAJA SEKAR, GOVT.ADVOCATE (CRL.SIDE ) ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 20.05.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 8(c) read with 22(b)(ii) (c), 29(1) of NDPS Act,1985 in CC.No. 1252 of 2025 in Crime No.83 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17242 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 4 2. The case of the prosecution is that on 20.05.2025, at about 3.30 p.m., based on a credible information received over the phone, the respondent police intercepted the accused and found them in possession of ganja. A total quantity of 20.200 kilograms of ganja was allegedly recovered and seized from both the accused. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 20.05.2025. It was further submitted that only 10.100 kilograms of ganja was recovered from the petitioner, which falls within the intermediate quantity. Therefore, it was contended that the rigour of Section 37 of the NDPS Act would not apply, and the petitioner is entitled to be enlarged on bail. 4. The said contention was vehemently opposed by the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police. It was submitted that the total recovery from both the accused is 20.200 kilograms of ganja, which constitutes a commercial quantity. It was further submitted that both the accused had jointly travelled to Odisha, procured the ganja, and were transporting it to the State of Tamil Nadu for sale. According to the prosecution, there are materials to establish their joint travel, joint possession, and conscious possession of the entire contraband at the time of seizure. It was also submitted that the petitioner has one previous criminal case of a similar nature. Hence, the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17242 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 4 learned Government Advocate prayed for dismissal of the bail application. 5. This Court has given its anxious consideration to the rival submissions. 6. Though the learned counsel for the petitioner contended that only 10.100 kilograms of ganja was recovered from the petitioner, the materials placed before this Court prima facie indicate that both the accused were travelling together, were found together at the place of occurrence, and were in joint and conscious possession of the contraband. Therefore, at this stage, the total recovery of 20.200 kilograms of ganja, which constitutes a commercial quantity, cannot be ignored. Further, the petitioner has one previous criminal case of a similar nature. In such circumstances, this Court is of the view that the petitioner has not made out any ground to satisfy the twin conditions prescribed under Section 37 of the NDPS Act. 7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 07-07-2026 JRS To 1. The Inspector of Police Redhills PEW Police Station, Chennai District. Crime No.83/2025 2. The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17242 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 4 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. JRS CRL OP No. 17242 of 2026 07-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis