CRL OP No. 18673 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. 18673 of 2026 1. Shanmugam 2. Manikandan ..Petitioners Vs The State by Inspector of Police, Konganapuram Police Station, Salem District. Crime No.225 of 2026 ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioners on bail in connection with the case in Crime No.225 of 2026 pending investigation on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioners: Mr.A.Saravanan For Respondent: Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu (Criminal Side) ORDER The petitioners, who were arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 03.07.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 21(1) of Mines and Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 and Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in Crime No.225 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18673 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 5 2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioners were found transporting three units of lake soil illegally in vehicles bearing Registration Nos. TN 52 F 0455 and TN 52 D 8544. Hence the case. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are only the drivers of the above vehicles and have been falsely implicated. It is submitted that the petitioners possessed valid permits for transportation of soil and that no illegal transportation had taken place. It is further submitted that the petitioners have no criminal antecedents. The learned counsel would also submit that the petitioners are permanent residents and are ready to cooperate with the investigation. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioners. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) opposed the bail application on the ground that the petitioners were found transporting lake soil illegally. 5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18673 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 5 6. Considering the submissions of the learned counsel for both sides and taking into account that the vehicles have already been seized, that the petitioners are the drivers of the vehicles, that they have no criminal antecedents and that their further custodial interrogation is not required, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioners on bail, subject to certain conditions: 7. Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail on their executing a separate bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand only), with two sureties each for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court, Edappadi, 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 petitioners shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m. for a period of two weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation; [c] the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [d] the petitioners 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. 18673 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 5 action against the petitioners in accordance with law as if the conditions had been imposed and the petitioners 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 petitioners 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 District Munsif Cum Judicial Magistrate, Edappadi. 2. The Central Prison, Salem. 3. The Inspector of Police, Konganapuram Police Station, Salem District. 4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18673 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 5 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NSL CRL OP No. 18673 of 2026 16-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis