CRL OP No. 18649 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 16-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 18649 of 2026 S.Balamurugan No. 136, Muthagovundar, Puthagaram, Tirupattur, Vellore ..Petitioner(s) Vs State Rep by The Inspector of Police CSCID, Tirupattur. Crime no.160 of 2026. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Act, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on Anticipatory Bail in the event of his arrest in connection with Crime No.160 of 2026 pending investigation on file of the respondent Police. For Petitioner(s): M/S. Sankar Vignesh For Respondent(s): MR.N.PALANIVEL, GOVT.ADVOCATE (CRL.SIDE) ORDER The petitioner apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Sections 7(1) (a)(ii) EC Act, 6(4) TNSC (RECS) Order 1982 in Crime No.160 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police seeks anticipatory bail. 2. According to the prosecution, the petitioner and four others had stolen rice from Public Distribution Scheme (PDS) ration provided at free of charge to https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18649 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 4 the general public by the Government of Tamil Nadu. 3.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the defacto complainant and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that he is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and ready to co-operate with the investigation. Hence, he prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and, upon instructions, submitted that no previous case has been registered against the petitioner. However, he strongly opposed the anticipatory bail application. 5.Considering the huge quantity of PDS rice involved, namely 3,900 kgs, this Court is of the view that the alleged offence has a serious impact on poor families who are fully dependent upon the Public Distribution System for their essential food requirements. In such view of the matter, this Court is of the firm view that it is not desirable to grant the relief of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Hence, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 16-07-2026 JRS https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18649 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 4 To 1. The Inspector of Police CSCID, Tirupattur. Crime no.160 of 2026 2.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 18649 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 4 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. JRS CRL OP No. 18649 of 2026 16-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis