Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 17 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Manoharsing (represented by Mr. B. Vasudevan) vs. State represented by the Inspector of Police, Shevapet Police Station, Salem District; Criminal Original Petition No.18891 of 2026 filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023.
  • Crime No.55 of 2026 alleges possession of 151 kilograms of banned tobacco products, offences under Sections 6 and 24(1) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 and Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
  • Petitioner was arrested and placed in judicial custody on 21 June 2026.
  • Prosecution argued possession of the tobacco; defence claimed innocence, no bad antecedents, and that a major portion of the investigation was already completed.

Final Outcome

  • The Court, considering the period of incarceration, lack of bad antecedents, and progress of investigation, inclined to enlarge bail subject to conditions.
  • Petitioner ordered to execute a bond for Rs 25,000 with two sureties (one a blood relative) to the satisfaction of Judicial Magistrate No.III, Salem.
  • Petitioner must deposit a non‑refundable contribution of Rs 50,000 to the credit of "Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital And Research Institute, Regional Cancer Centre, Chennai Bangalore Highway NH-4, KANCHIPURAM, Vellore - Chennai Road, Karapettai, Tamil Nadu 631552" and produce the bank challan before the Magistrate.
  • Additional conditions:

a) Produce proof of the Rs 50,000 deposit at the time of executing the bond.

b) Sureties to affix photographs and left thumb impressions in the Application for Suretyship (Judicial Form No.46) and provide identity proof.

c) Petitioner to report before the respondent police twice a day at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for four weeks and thereafter as required for interrogation.

d) Petitioner shall not abscond during investigation or trial.

e) Petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witnesses during investigation or trial.

f) Breach of any condition empowers the learned Magistrate/Trial Court to take appropriate action as per Supreme Court precedent in P.K. Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005) 13 SCC 283].

g) If petitioner absconds, a fresh FIR may be registered under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

  • The order is to be uploaded forthwith on the official website of the Court, watermarked and with a QR code.

Topics: Criminal Bail, Tobacco Regulation