Muneeshwaran v. The State of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 19/08/2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.MURALI SHANKAR Muneeshwaran, S/o.Bose, 114, Sathrayugavalli Nagar, Sayalkudi, Kadaladi Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.. ... Petitioner/Accused No.5 Vs The State of Tamilnadu Rep By, The Inspector of Police, Sayalkudi Police Station, Ramanathapuram District. Cr.No.296 of 2026.. ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.Naresh Prabu A, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.N.Balasubramanian, Counsel for State of TN (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :- C-33B.For Bail in Cr.No.296 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner / Accused No.5, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 03.08.2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 123, 274 and 275 of BNS, 2023 and Section 77 of JJ Act and Sections 6 and 24(1) of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, in Crime No.296 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that on 02.08.2026, based on the secret information, the petitioner along with other accused were found in illegal possession of 3 packs of Ganesh Tobacco Product each pack containing 45 pockets each weight 15 grams. Hence, the complaint.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that the petitioner is in judicial custody from 03.08.2026. Hence, he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned Counsel for State of TN (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent police would submit that 7 kgs of Ganesh Tobacco Product were recovered from the petitioner along with other accused. He would further submit that the petitioner is not having any previous cases. However, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

¶5Considering the above facts and circumstances and also the facts that the petitioner is in judicial custody from 03.08.2026 and that the petitioner is not having any bad antecedents, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

¶6Accordingly, 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 each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Kadaladi, Ramanathapuram District, and on further condition that:

(i)the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate / concerned court may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank Pass Book to ensure their identity;

(ii)the petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) to the credit of Government of Tamil Nadu, CMPRF in IOB, Secretariat Branch, Chennai-9 (Account No.11720 10000 00070, IFSC Code: IOBA0001172), without prejudice to his rights and contentions before the trial Court. The petitioner shall execute the sureties on showing the receipt of the said amount.

(iii)the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at

10.30 a.m., for a period of one month and thereafter as and when required for interrogation;

(iv)the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness;

(v)the petitioner shall not abscond during trial;

(vi)On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate / Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner is released on bail by the learned Magistrate / Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560].

(vii)If the accused thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 BNS, 2023.

(K M S J)

19.08.2026 VSG TO

1.The learned Judicial Magistrate, Kadaladi, Ramanathapuram District.

¶2The Officer-in-Charge, Sub Jail, Muthukoolathur, Ramanathapuram District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Sayalkudi Police Station, Ramanathapuram District.

¶4The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. K.MURALI SHANKAR,J., vsg ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.17934 of 2026 Date : 19/08/2026