Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 07-10-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Vallimuthu J, son of Jayachandran, residing at 20, 1st Floor, Andal Street, East Tambaram, Tamil Nadu.
  • Respondent: State represented by Inspector of Police, Crime Investigation Department (CBCID), Government of Puducherry, Crime No. 06/2026.
  • Nature of Proceedings: Criminal Original Petition under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) seeking enlargement of bail for the petitioner, who was arrested and placed in judicial custody on 10.09.2026.
  • Alleged Offences: Sections 276, 318(4), 123, 336(2) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 63 and 65 of the Copyright Act, 1957.
  • Background:
  • On 13.07.2026, Thiru. Rajkumar (40), Director of M/s. APA Drugs and Formulations, lodged a typed complaint at Mettupalayam Police Station, Puducherry, stating that in June 2026 a consignment of 96,000 Pregabalin 150 mg capsules bearing APA’s name was seized by the Q Branch, Ramanathapuram District. The packaging indicated manufacturing by M/s. Digital Vision, Himachal Pradesh, which denied involvement.
  • Rajkumar’s own investigation traced the source to M/s. Medinok Healthcare Private Limited, Kurumbapet, Puducherry. He placed a test order for the capsules through broker Seeni Mohammed (A4), paying ₹2,00,000 on 06.07.2026 and ₹3,40,000 on 13.07.2026, totaling ₹5,40,000, into a nominated bank account. Delivery was to be effected via Mettur Transport on 13.07.2026, the same channel used for the earlier intercepted consignment.
  • Consequently, Crime No.96 of 2026 was registered at Mettupalayam Police Station for the offences listed above.
  • Prosecution’s Claim (as per status report dated 31.08.2026): A total of 3.46 lakhs counterfeit medicines were manufactured. Of these, 1.5 lakhs were delivered to the petitioner (referred to as A2), 1.96 lakhs were sent to Ramanadhapuram, and 96,000 capsules were seized by Q Branch, Ramanathapuram Police. The petitioner was aware of 2.50 lakhs capsules.
  • Prior Bail: The first accused had been granted bail by this Court on 03.09.2026 (Crl.O.P.No. 23413 of 2026).

Final Outcome

  • The Court allowed the Criminal Original Petition and ordered the release of the petitioner on bail in Crime No.06 of 2026.
  • Bond: The petitioner must execute a bond of ₹25,000 (Rupees Twenty‑Five Thousand only) with two sureties, each providing a similar amount, to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Puducherry.
  • Conditions:

1. Sureties must affix photographs and left thumb impressions; Magistrate may verify Aadhaar or other ID.

2. Petitioner must report daily before the respondent police at 10:30 a.m. for two weeks from release, and thereafter as required by the Investigating Officer.

3. Petitioner may not leave the Union Territory of Puducherry or the State of Tamil Nadu without prior permission of the jurisdictional court and must furnish residential address and contact details to the Investigating Officer, notifying any changes immediately.

4. Petitioner shall not induce, threaten, or promise any person acquainted with the case facts to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or police, nor tamper with any evidence.

5. Petitioner shall not communicate, directly or indirectly, with the absconding accused except through the Investigating Officer.

6. Petitioner shall not interfere with, remove, or deal with any article, record, register, machinery, or document seized in the case, including those sealed at the premises of M/s. Medinok Healthcare Private Limited, and must cooperate fully with the Investigating Officer and Drugs Control Department, Government of Puducherry.

7. Petitioner shall not commit any offence of a similar nature and shall not cause or permit the manufacture, packing, or labeling of any drug except in strict accordance with licences held by M/s. Medinok Healthcare Private Limited and the endorsements made thereon.

8. Breach of any condition empowers the learned Magistrate/Trial Court to take appropriate action, and the respondent may move for cancellation of bail. In case of absconding, a fresh FIR may be registered under Section 269 BNS.

  • The Court clarified that the observations are confined to the bail petition, are prima facie, and shall not influence the Investigating Officer or the trial court at any stage of the trial.

Topics: Criminal Bail, Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals