CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 17-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 Manikandan @Govinth ..Petitioner Vs State rep by, The Inspector of Police, K-3, Aminjikarai Police Station, Chennai. Crime No.486 of 2025. ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail pending in C.C.No.233 of 2026 on the file of II Additional Special Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of cases under EC & NDPS Act at Chennai. For Petitioner: Mr.D.Sugumar 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 24.08.2025 for the alleged offences under Sections 8 (c) r/w 22(b), 25 of NDPS Act 1985 @ 22(b), 25 & 29(1) of NDPS Act, 1985 @ 8(c) r/w 22(c), 25, & 29(1) of NDPS Act 1985, in Crime No.486 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 6 2. The case of the prosecution is that, based on the confession statement of the third accused, the petitioner (A2) and the first accused were arrested. During the search, 60 grams of cocaine was allegedly recovered from their possession. Hence the case. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner was arrested only on the basis of the confession statement of the co- accused and was remanded to judicial custody after a period of 60 days. It is further submitted that the recovery is only 60 grams of cocaine, which is an intermediate quantity. The learned counsel would also submit that the co- accused, namely A4 and A5, have already been enlarged on bail on the very same grounds. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police opposed the bail application and submitted that pursuant to the confession statement of the third accused, A1 and A2 were arrested and 60 grams of cocaine was recovered. It is further submitted that the petitioner confessed that he along with the first accused, instructed the third accused to deliver the contraband to customers and transfer the sale proceeds to the first accused. It is further submitted that the investigation has been completed, final report has been filed and cognizance has been taken in C.C. No.233 of 2026. It is further submitted that co-accused were granted bail before altering the FIR as https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 6 commercial quantity. 5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side. 6. On a perusal of the records, it is seen that the petitioner was arrested along with the first accused and 60 grams of cocaine, which is only an intermediate quantity was allegedly recovered. The investigation has already been completed and the final report has been filed. It is also not in dispute that the co-accused namely A4 and A5, have already been enlarged on bail. Considering the parity, the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner from 24.08.2025 and the completion of the investigation, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail, subject to certain conditions. 7. Accordingly, the petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) by way of Demand Draft to the Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Kancheepuram and on such deposit, 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 (out of which one surety must be a blood related surety) for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned II Additional Special Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under EC & NDPS Act, Chennai and https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 6 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 Trial Court concerned daily at 10.30 a.m. for a period of four weeks and thereafter on all hearing dates without fail; [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 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. 17-07-2026 NSL https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 6 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 II Additional Special Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under EC & NDPS Act, Chennai. 2. The Central Prison, Puzhal – II, Chennai. 3. The Inspector of Police, K-3, Aminjikarai Police Station, Chennai. 4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 6 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J. NSL CRL OP No. 18058 of 2026 17-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis