Dismissed¶28

Sakarai @ Sakravarthi v. The State Rep.by, The Inspector of Police

Bail – NDPS Act, 1985, Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B)

Madras HC27 Mar 2026CRL OP/7854/2026

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What is this about?

Madras High Court bail rejection; CRL OP No. 7854 of 2026; Sakarai @ Sakravarthi; NDPS Act Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B); ganja 5.200 kg intermediate quantity; 18 previous NDPS cases; criminal antecedents; repeat offender; Attayampatti Police Station Salem District; Crime No.40/2026; Section 483 BNSS 2023; bail refused; C. Kumarappan J.; 27-03-2026.

What did the court decide?

Despite the contention that the recovery was only intermediate quantity and that the petitioner had been incarcerated since 24.02.2026, the petitioner's past conduct could not be ignored, as his 18 previous NDPS cases demonstrated involvement in similar offences. ¶27

Sakarai @ Sakravarthi Vs The State Rep.by, The Inspector of… — Narcotics (NDPS) | Madras HC (2026)

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CRL OP No. 7854 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 27-03-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 7854 of 2026

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Sakarai @ Sakravarthi

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..Petitioner

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The State rep.by, The Inspector of Police, Attayampatti Police Station, Salem District. (Crime No.40/2026).

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..Respondent

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PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail Crime No.40 of 2026 on the file of the Respondent.

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For Petitioner: Mr.C.Deepakkumar For Respondent: Mr.S.Vinoth Kumar, Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

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ORDER

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The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 24.02.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, in Crime No.40 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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CRL OP No. 7854 of 2026

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The case of the prosecution is that on 24.02.2026, while the respondent

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police were on routine patrol, they found the petitioner in possession of 5.200 kilograms of ganja. Hence, the case was registered.

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The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case and he is no way connected with the alleged offence. The learned counsel would further submit that the recovery from the petitioner is only 5 kilograms and 200 grams of ganja and the same would fall under intermediate quantity. It is also submitted that the petitioner has been in incarceration since 24.02.2026 and that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

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The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that the petitioner was found in 5.200 kilograms of ganja and that the petitioner has got 18 previous cases under the NDPS Act. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) would strongly oppose the bail application on the ground that if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, he will again indulge in similar offences and would misuse the liberty granted by this Court.

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I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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CRL OP No. 7854 of 2026

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Considering the submission of the learned counsel on either side, this

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Court is of the view that though the learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the recovery is only intermediate quantity and that the petitioner has been in incarceration since 24.02.2026, the past conduct of the petitioner cannot be ignored. As rightly contended by the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side), the petitioner has got 18 previous NDPS cases, which clearly demonstrates his involvement in similar offences. Hence, taking into consideration the nature of the allegation, the past criminal antecedents and the possibility of the petitioner committing similar offences if enlarged on bail, this Court is of the view that this is not an appropriate stage to consider the bail application.

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7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed.

27-03-2026

NSL