CRL OP No. 18667 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 16-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 18667 of 2026 Santhosh Kumar ..Petitioner Vs The State Rep by Inspector of Police, K2, Ayanavaram Police Station, Chennai. Crime No.233 of 2026 ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.233 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner: Mr.S.Mahalakshmi For Respondent: Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu (Criminal Side) ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 12.06.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 8(c) r/w 22(b), 25 and 29(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 & 123, 286 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in Crime No.233 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18667 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 5 2. The case of the prosecution is that based on secret information, three accused persons were intercepted while allegedly selling drugs. As against the present petitioner, 73 grams of Nitrazepam (Nitrosun 10mg) tablets were recovered. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has been falsely implicated and has no criminal antecedents. It is further submitted that the petitioner is a permanent resident and is ready to abide by any condition imposed by this Court. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police submitted that there are three accused in the case, the entire recovery is only intermediate quantity and the recovery from this petitioner is only 73 grams of Nitrazepam. It is further submitted that the petitioner has no previous criminal antecedents. 5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side. 6. Considering the submissions of the learned counsel for both sides, this Court is of the view that the recovery attributable to the petitioner is only 73 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18667 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 5 grams of Nitrazepam, which falls under intermediate quantity. Taking into account that there are no previous criminal antecedents against the petitioner, the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner since 12.06.2026 and that further custodial interrogation is not required, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail, subject to the following conditions: 7. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand only), with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Principal Special Court under EC & NDPS Act, Chennai, and subject to the following conditions: [a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the Application for Surety ship [Judicial Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019']. The learned Magistrate shall obtain a copy of any one of the identity proofs to ensure their identity; [b] the petitioner shall report before the Principal Special Court under EC & NDPS Act, Chennai daily at 10.30 a.m. until further orders; [c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [e] on breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18667 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 5 action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions had been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court itself, as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)13 SCC 283]; [f] if the petitioner thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR may be registered under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 16-07-2026 NSL Note: 1. Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court. 2. All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code. To 1. The Principal Special Court under EC & NDPS Act, Chennai. 2. The Central Prison, Chennai. 3. The Inspector of Police, K2, Ayanavaram Police Station, Chennai. 4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18667 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 5 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NSL CRL OP No. 18667 of 2026 16-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis