CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 23-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 Selvam S/o.Shanmugam, No. 63, Mettu Street Malalinatham, Meleripakkam post, Nemmeli, Chengalpattu 603 002. ..Petitioner(s) Vs. 1. State Represented by The Sub Inspector of Police Chengalpattu Taluk Police Station, Chengalpattu. Cr.No. 446/2025. 2. The Branch Manager Punjab National Bank, Chengalpattu Branch, Old No. 32, Dr. Vardara Vedachalam Nagar, Chengalpattu 603 001. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, to direct the 2nd respondent to release the petitioners’ bank account bearing No. 1776100100007604 maintained with Punjab National Bank, Chengalpattu Branch and further direct the 1st respondent not to freeze any bank accounts of the petitioner in connection with FIR in Cr.No.466 /2025 pending on the file of the 1st respondent. For Petitioner(s): Mr.B.Dinesh For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz Government Advocate (Criminal Side) For R1 Mr.J.Arun Prasad For R2 __________ Page1 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 ORDER The prayer in this Criminal Original Petition is to defreeze the bank account of the petitioner.

2. Upon hearing the submissions of the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), it is submitted that the petitioner's bank account has been frozen since he is an accused in Crime No.446 of 2025. On a perusal of the allegations, it is seen that the banned tobacco products, namely, Hans (7 packets) and Cool Lip (17 packets), were recovered from the petitioner's provision store. Though no exception can be taken to the action of the respondent in freezing the bank account during the course of investigation, having regard to the nature of the allegations, the quantity of the banned tobacco products seized, and the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that, without prejudice to his defence in the criminal case, the petitioner is willing to file an affidavit undertaking that he shall not, in any manner, involve himself in the sale or distribution of any banned tobacco products in his provision store in future, this Court is inclined to consider the prayer made by the petitioner. 3. In view thereof, this Criminal Original Petition stands allowed on the following terms:- (i) the petitioner shall file an affidavit as aforementioned before the __________ Page2 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 respondent - Police within a period of ten working days from the date of receipt of the web copy of the order;

(ii) upon filing of an affidavit, the respondent - Police shall issue a communication to the 2nd respondent bank, upon which the bank account shall be defreezed. 23-07-2026 Neutral Citation: Yes/No JER To 1. The Sub Inspector of Police Chengalpattu Taluk Police Station, Chengalpattu. Cr.No. 446/2025. 2. The Branch Manager Punjab National Bank, Chengalpattu Branch, Old No. 32, Dr. Vardara Vedachalam Nagar, Chengalpattu 603 001. 3. The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras. __________ Page3 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J. JER CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 23-07-2026 __________ Page4 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 23-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 Selvam S/o.Shanmugam, No. 63, Mettu Street Malalinatham, Meleripakkam post, Nemmeli, Chengalpattu 603 002. ..Petitioner(s) Vs. 1. State Represented by The Sub Inspector of Police Chengalpattu Taluk Police Station, Chengalpattu. Cr.No. 446/2025. 2. The Branch Manager Punjab National Bank, Chengalpattu Branch, Old No. 32, Dr. Vardara Vedachalam Nagar, Chengalpattu 603 001. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, to direct the 2nd respondent to release the petitioners’ bank account bearing No. 1776100100007604 maintained with Punjab National Bank, Chengalpattu Branch and further direct the 1st respondent not to freeze any bank accounts of the petitioner in connection with FIR in Cr.No.466 /2025 pending on the file of the 1st respondent. For Petitioner(s): Mr.B.Dinesh For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz Government Advocate (Criminal Side) For R1 Mr.J.Arun Prasad For R2 __________ Page1 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 ORDER The prayer in this Criminal Original Petition is to defreeze the bank account of the petitioner.

2. Upon hearing the submissions of the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), it is submitted that the petitioner's bank account has been frozen since he is an accused in Crime No.446 of 2025. On a perusal of the allegations, it is seen that the banned tobacco products, namely, Hans (7 packets) and Cool Lip (17 packets), were recovered from the petitioner's provision store. Though no exception can be taken to the action of the respondent in freezing the bank account during the course of investigation, having regard to the nature of the allegations, the quantity of the banned tobacco products seized, and the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that, without prejudice to his defence in the criminal case, the petitioner is willing to file an affidavit undertaking that he shall not, in any manner, involve himself in the sale or distribution of any banned tobacco products in his provision store in future, this Court is inclined to consider the prayer made by the petitioner. 3. In view thereof, this Criminal Original Petition stands allowed on the following terms:- (i) the petitioner shall file an affidavit as aforementioned before the __________ Page2 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 respondent - Police within a period of ten working days from the date of receipt of the web copy of the order;

(ii) upon filing of an affidavit, the respondent - Police shall issue a communication to the 2nd respondent bank, upon which the bank account shall be defreezed. 23-07-2026 Neutral Citation: Yes/No JER To 1. The Sub Inspector of Police Chengalpattu Taluk Police Station, Chengalpattu. Cr.No. 446/2025. 2. The Branch Manager Punjab National Bank, Chengalpattu Branch, Old No. 32, Dr. Vardara Vedachalam Nagar, Chengalpattu 603 001. 3. The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras. __________ Page3 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J. JER CRL OP No. 1587 of 2026 23-07-2026 __________ Page4 of 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis