Mukesh Singh vs State

K. Rajasekar, J

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 09.10.2025 for the offences punishable under Sections 24(1) of COTP Act and under Section 123 of BNS in Crime No.439 of 2025, registered on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. The earlier bail application of the petitioner was dismissed by this Court, vide order dated 07.11.2025 in Crl.O.P.No.30445 of 2025.

The allegation against the petitioner herein is that, the petitioner was found in illegal possession of 15.440 kilograms of banned tobacco products for the purpose of illegal sales. Hence, this case.

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case and he is in judicial custody since 09.10.2025; and that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and sought for bail to the petitioner.

The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent while opposing the bail to the petitioner reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the petitioner is hailing from Bihar and the major part of the investigation has been completed.

Considering the submissions made, facts and circumstances of the case, the contraband involved in this case has been already seized, the major part of the investigation has been completed and though the earlier bail application of the petitioner was dismissed by this Court in Crl.O.P.No.33668 of 2025, taking note of the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

Accordingly, 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 V Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Egmore and on further conditions that:

[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., for a period of four weeks and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation;

[c] On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned conditions have been imposed and the petitioner 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)13 SCC 283];

[d] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S.