Sankar Barik v. The State Represented by the Inspector of Police

ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on

11.06.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, in Crime No.111 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. Page2 of 5

¶2The case of the prosecution is that, based on secret information, the respondent police proceeded near Kovai Periyakulathangarai Kannimaar Temple and found the petitioner in possession of 1.125 kilograms of ganja. Hence the case.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated. It is submitted that this is the first bail application, the petitioner has been in judicial custody since

12.06.2026 and is willing to abide by any condition imposed by this Court. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police submitted that the entire recovery is only intermediate quantity. It is further submitted that the petitioner has no previous criminal antecedents.

¶5I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side.

¶6Considering the submissions of the learned counsel for both sides, this Court is of the view that the petitioner was found in possession of 1.125 kilograms of ganja, which falls under intermediate quantity. Taking into account Page3 of 5 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:

¶7Accordingly, 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 Judicial Magistrate V, Coimbatore, 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 respondent police 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 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 Page4 of 5 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:

¶1Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court.

¶2All 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

¶1The Judicial Magistrate-V, Coimbatore.

¶2The Central Prison, Coimbatore.

¶3The Inspector of Police, PEW Coimbatore City Police Station, Coimbatore City.

¶4The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. CRLoOPoNo.o18691oofo2026 C.KUMARAPPAN,oJ. NSL CRLoOPoNo.o18691oofo2026 16-07-2026 Page5oofo5

Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 16-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Sankar Barik ..Petitioner Vs State Rep. By The Inspector of Police, PEW Coimbatore City Police Station, Coimbatore City. Crime No.111/2026. ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.111 of 2026 pending investigation on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner: Ms.R.Madhubala for Mr.T.Balaji For Respondent: Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu (Criminal Side)