IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 11-06-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SHAMIM AHMED
CRL RC No. 384 of 2026
Aravindhan, S/o.Elumalai,
Mettu Street, Dharmapuri Adhanur Post,
Adanur, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu - 605 402.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
The State Rep. by the Inspector of Police,
vikravandi police station, villupuram.
(Cr.No.19/2026)
..Respondent(s)
Prayer: To call for the records and set aside the order passed in
Crl.M.P.No.50/2026, (in the court of District Munsif Cum Judicial Magistrate,
Vikravandi) dated 28.01.2026.
For Petitioner(s): Mr.E.Jagadeesan for Mr. D.Ashok Kumar
For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Dinesh, GA (Criminal Side)
ORDER
1. This Criminal Revision Case is filed to set aside the order dated, 28.01.2026, passed in Crl.MP.No.50 of 2026, by the District Munsif Cum Judicial Magistrate, Vikravandi.
2. The facts of the case are that the Revision Petitioner is the owner of the Two Wheeler, Hero Splender, bearing Reg.No.TN 32 BJ 8314, which was seized by the Respondent Police, in Cr.No.19 of 2026 for the offence under Sections 4(1)(A), 4(1)(C) and 14(A) of the TNP Amendment Act. Hence, the Revision Petitioner had filed the above petition, seeking release of the said Vehicle, before the Trial Court. By the impugned order, the Trial Court had dismissed the said petition, refusing to release the said Vehicle. Hence, this Criminal Revision Case has been filed by the Revision Petitioner, seeking the relief, as stated above.
3. This Court heard Mr.E.Jagadeesan for Mr. D.Ashok Kumar, the learned counsel for the Revision Petitioner and Mr.M.Dinesh, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for the Respondent.
4. The learned counsel for the Revision Petitioner submits that the Revision Petitioner is the owner of the vehicle in question and that when the ownership of the vehicle in question is not in dispute, the impugned order of the court below, refusing to return the vehicle, is not sustainable. Thus, the learned counsel seeks to quash the impugned order and to release the vehicle in question.
5. The learned counsel for the Revision Petitioner further submits that from the date of seizure, the vehicle in question is kept in the custody of the Trial Court in the open yard and with the passage of time, ultimately it will become junk and after sometime, it is not useful for any purpose. The learned counsel has relied on the law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai and C.M. Mudaliar Vs. State of Gujrat, AIR 2003 SC 638.
6. The learned counsel for the Revision Petitioner has further drawn the attention of this Court, regarding the provisions of Sections 497 and 503 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which is quoted as under:-
"497. Order for custody and disposal of property pending trial in certain cases.-When any property is produced before any Criminal Court during any inquiry or trial, the Court may make such order as it thinks fit for the proper custody of such property pending the conclusion of the inquiry or trial, and, if the property is subject to speedy and natural decay, or if it is otherwise expedient so to do, the Court may, after recording such evidence as it thinks necessary, order it to be sold or otherwise disposed of. Explanation.- For the purposes of this section," property" includes- (a) property of any kind or document which is produced before the Court or which is in its custody, (b) any property regarding which an offence appears to have been committed or which appears to have been used for the commission of any offence. (2) The Court or the Magistrate shall, within a period of fourteen days from the production of the property referred to in sub-section (1) before it, prepare a statement of such property containing its description in such form and manner as the State Government may, by rules, provide. (3)The Court or the Magistrate shall cause to be taken the photograph and if necessary, videograph on mobile phone or any electronic media, of the property referred to in sub-section (1). (4)The statement prepared under sub-section (2) and the photograph or the videography taken under sub-section (3) shall be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita. (5)The Court or the Magistrate shall, within a period of thirty days after the statement has been prepared under sub-section (2) and the photograph or the videography has been taken under sub-section (3), order the disposal, destruction, confiscation or delivery of the property in the manner specified hereinafter."
"503. Procedure by police upon seizure of property.-(1) Whenever the seizure of prop
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