MANIKANDAN Vs. STATE OF TAMILNADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who have been arrayed as A4 to A6 and A3 respectively, and are in custody in Crime No.7 of 2025 registered for the offences punishable under Ss. 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 and 29(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, have challenged the orders dtd. 8/7/2025 and 23/7/2025 passed by the learned Additional District Judge for EC and NDPS Act Cases, Pudukkottai, in Crl.M.P.No.1786 of 2025 and Crl.M.P.No.2025 of 2025, allowing the# request of the respondent for extension of time to conduct further investigation and file the final report and rejecting the statutory bail.

(2.) The petitioners were arrested on 12/1/2025. It is the case of the prosecution that the first and second accused were found in possession of 340 kgs of ganja; and that the petitioners/A4 to A6 and A3 were also involved in the offence of conspiracy in the alleged crime.

(3.) The statutory period of 180 days for investigation from the date of remand of the accused, i.e., 12/1/2025, expired on 11/7/2025. The learned Public Prosecutor filed a report in Crl.M.P.No.1786 of 2025 seeking extension of time to complete the investigation under Sec. 36A(4) of the NDPS Act. The learned Additional District Judge for EC and NDPS Act Cases, Pudukkottai, extended the time for completion of the investigation by two months, vide the order dtd. 8/7/2025 impugned in Crl.O.P.(MD) No.15094 of 2025. Subsequently, the petitioner in Crl.O.P.(MD) No.16742 of 2025 filed Crl.M.P.No.2025 of 2025 under Sec. 187(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking statutory bail, which was dismissed by the learned Additional District Judge for EC and NDPS Act Cases, Pudukkottai, vide the order dtd. 23/7/2025 impugned in Crl.O.P.(MD) No.16742 of 2025.