Senthilnathan v. The State
Case at a glance
- Bench
- M NIRMAL KUMAR
Outcome
Disposed of
Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of
Provisions considered
Judgment
CRL OP No. 7558 of 2026__________Page1 of 4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 25-03-2026CORAMTHE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMARCRL OP No. 7558 of 2026 Senthilnathan..Petitioner(s)VsThe State Rep By Its, The Inspector of Police, Tiruppur South Police Station, Tiruppur District. Cr.No.716 of 2025..Respondent(s)Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of B.N.S.S., to set aside the docket order dated 16.02.2026 passed in Crl.M.P.SR.No.723 of 2026 on the file of the learned Additional District Judge, Presiding Officer, Special Court for Essential Commodities Act Cases, Coimbatore and return the vehicle bearing Registration No.TN 42 AP 0055 seized by the respondent Police in connection to Crime No.716 of 2025.For Petitioner(s):Mr.D.Senthur KuganFor Respondent(s):Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam, Addl. Public ProsecutorORDERThe petitioner had filed a petition in Crl.MP.SR.No.723 of 2026 seeking return of the property involved in Crime No.716 of 2025.
However, the same was not entertained and was returned. Hence, the present Criminal Original Petition has been filed. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 7558 of 2026__________Page2 of 42. The contention of the petitioner is that he was standing along with 7 other accused persons and alleged seizure of the contraband was seized from the 1st accused and further, proceeded to seize the standing vehicle bearing Registration No.TN 42 AP 0055 belonging to the petitioner parked in the scene of occurrence.3. He further submitted that the Apex Court had categorised the entitlement of petitioners for return of property into four categories. In respect of categories 1 and 2, there are certain restrictions, whereas in respect of categories 3 and 4, the claimants are entitled to seek return of property. In support of his submission, reliance was placed on the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Denash vs.
State of Tamil Nadu reported in 2025 SCC Online SC 2236 and Bishwajit Dey vs. State of Assam reported in 2025 INSC 32. 4. In a similar situation in Crl.OP.No.33623 of 2025, this Court by order dated 11.12.2025 had not approved the practice of returning the petition seeking return of property and had directed the Trial Court to follow the directions issued the Apex Court. Despite the same, the Lower Court not entertaining the petition and returned the same on 10.02.2026 is not proper. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 7558 of 2026__________Page3 of 45. The learned Addtiional Public Prosecutor submitted that the Trial Court had referred to ROC.No.10143-A/2025/F1 dated 18.06.2025 and returned the petition. However, he fairly submitted that the Supreme Court's directions are otherwise. He further submitted that the decision to return the property or reject the claim is within the discretion of the Trial Court.
Operative part
In all fairness, following the principles of audi alteram partem, the petition ought to have been entertained, heard, and thereafter appropriate orders to be passed.6. Considering the above submissions, it is seen that this Court in Crl.OP.No.33623 of 2025 by order dated 11.12.2025, had already deprecated the practice of returning the petitions without following the Supreme Court guidelines. More so, not even entertaining the petition is not proper in law. In view of the same, the petitioner is directed to resubmit the returned petition. The Lower Court shall entertain the petition, hear the petitioner and thereafter pass appropriate orders considering the merits of the claim petition. The Registry to return the originals to the petitioner, who shall represent the same before the concerned Court.7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of. The Registry is directed to return the original documents to the petitioner.25-03-2026Index: Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking orderNeutral Citation: Yes/NoVKR https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 7558 of 2026__________Page4 of 4M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.VKRTo1.The Additional District Judge/Presiding Officer, Special Court for Essential Commodities Act Cases, Coimbatore.
The Inspector of Police, Tiruppur South Police Station, Tiruppur District.
The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.CRL OP No. 7558 of 202625-03-2026
Questions this judgment answers
What did the Court decide in this case?
The Court recorded the following disposition: Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of
Which statutory provisions did this judgment involve?
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 528; Essential Commodities Act.
Precedent status how later indexed judgments have treated this case
No known negative treatment found in the Courts & Cases corpus.
This is a result about the indexed corpus, not a finding that the judgment remains good law. Coverage may be incomplete.