STATE OF TAMIL NADU REP BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE vs VASANTHAKUMAR — 260/2025

Court Decision Summary The District Magistrate Court in Kodavasal acquitted J. Vasanthakumar of charges under Section 4(1)(c) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, applying the benefit of doubt principle. The court found that while police witnesses testified to seizing 25 bottles of Golden Choices Brandy from the accused on 01.05.2025, critical procedural violations under Section 32 of the TNP Act undermined the prosecution's case—specifically, the seized liquor was destroyed without the mandatory presence of a senior police officer (Inspector rank or above) and without proper sampling and certification procedures required by law. The absence of civilian witnesses to identify the accused and substantial gaps in evidence documentation created reasonable doubt that favored the accused's acquittal. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.