CRL OP No. 19245 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 21-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 19245 of 2026 Vijayalakshmi ..Petitioner(s) Vs The State Rep by The Inspector of Police Velankanni Police Station, Nagapattinam District. Crime No.158 of 2026. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Act, 2023, praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in connection with Crime no.158 of 2026 on the file of the Respondent. For Petitioner(s): J Jawahar For Respondent(s): MS.R.S.INDIRA, GOVT.ADVOCATE (CRL.SIDE) ORDER The petitioner apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Sections 4(1)(C),r/w 4(1)(A) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937 in Crime No. 158 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police seeks anticipatory bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19245 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 5 2. The case of the prosecution is that when the respondent police were on their routine vehicle inspection near Vandalur Railway Bridge, they found that the accused persons illegally transported 50 bottles of Pondicherry liquor (180ml each) without valid permission. Hence, the case. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and she has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He submits that since because the petitioner is the wife of A2, she has been arrayed as an accused. He further submitted that she 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 submitted that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents. However, she opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 5. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions and perused the materials available on record. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19245 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 5 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, from the submissions made by learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side), it is seen that this petitioner is the wife of A2, who has already been arrested by the respondent police for possession of 135 bottles of Puducherry liquor. Though the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) objected this application, she fairly submits that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents. Considering the fact that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents and also upon the fact that the petitioner, being a women, this Court is of the firm view that at this length of time, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required. Hence, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions. 7. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on her appearance, within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Nagapattinam on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only), with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on further conditions: (a) If the petitioner fails to surrender before the concerned learned Magistrate within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, this order shall stand automatically cancelled; https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19245 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 5 (b) 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 identify proofs to ensure their identity; (c) The petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, everyday at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation; (d) On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate actions against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on anticipatory bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji v. State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560]; (e) If the petitioner thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act. 21-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No nr To: 1. The Judicial Magistrate No.I, Nagapattinam 2. The Inspector of Police Velankanni Police Station, Nagapattinam District. 3. The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19245 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 5 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NR CRL OP No. 19245 of 2026 21-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis