Madras HC Grants Bail to Family Accused of Selling Magic Mushrooms

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has granted bail under certain conditions to four family members accused of selling magic mushrooms (intoxicating mushrooms) in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.

The court found the case to be false, noting a dispute between the family and the CSI Church management over a prime property in Kodaikanal, Dindigul district.

The court has ordered a CB-CID investigation into the case. The family members—Salomon, Jayanthi, Victoria Rani, Helen Mary, and Brigad—had approached the Madurai Bench, asserting that they own bungalows in the Kodaikanal Lake area, which they claimed were being illegally usurped by another party.

In their petition, they stated, “We have our own bungalows at Kodaikanal Lake area. One of the parties claims to have illegally usurped the bungalows. Various attempts have been made to evict us. Meanwhile, the Kodaikanal police arrested us for selling magic mushrooms (intoxicating mushrooms). In this case, we request bail and an inquiry to be transferred to the CBCID.”

Judge Pugalendhi directed the DGP to withdraw the case from the Kodaikanal Police and transfer it to the CBCID in either Dindigul or Madurai for further investigation. The Judicial Magistrate was instructed not to file a final report if submitted by the Kodaikanal police.

The court observed that the case seemed to have been filed without verifying the quantity of the psychotropic substance involved. The police had characterized the case as involving a commercial quantity of the substance. The court indicated that the case might have been fabricated to facilitate the eviction of the petitioners from their property, using the police as a tool.