Vijayalakshmi vs State

K. Rajasekar, J

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 12.01.2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 123 of BNS r/w 6(a), 24(1) of COTPA Act in Crime No.18 of 2026, registered on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

The case of the prosecution is that, the petitioner was in illegal possession of 3.400 kilograms of banned tobacco products for the purpose of selling the same to the general public for her personal gain. Hence, this case.

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case and she is in judicial custody since 12.01.2026; 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 herein has one previous case of similar nature; and that the investigation of this case is pending.

Though it is stated that the petitioner herein has one previous case, considering the quantity of contraband involved in this case and taking note of the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner herein, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on her executing 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 Judicial Magistrate No.I, Coimbatore 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 three 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.