Nithish Kumar vs State

C.Kumarappan, J

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 16.02.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, in Crime No.77 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner was found in possession of 2.1 kilograms of ganja. Hence, the case.

The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has nothing to do with the alleged possession of ganja and has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that, in any event, the quantity involved is 2.1 kilograms, which falls within the intermediate quantity. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner.

The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police, while opposing the grant of bail to the petitioner, fairly submitted that the petitioner has no bad antecedents.

Considering the nature of allegations, the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner, the fact that the contraband seized falls within the intermediate quantity, and also the fact that the petitioner has no bad antecedents, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail, subject to certain conditions.

Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on their 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 Additional District Judge, Special Judge under EC/NDPS Act, 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 twice a day at 10.30 a.m. and 05.30 a.m. for a period of 30 days and thereafter as and when required for interrogation;

[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 petitioners 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 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.