Marripudi Venkatesh v. State Rep. By The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 21-01-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR CRL OP NO.477 of 2026 Marripudi Venkatesh Petitioner(s) Vs The State Represented by The Inspector of Police North Zone Cyber Crime Police Station, (CCW), CCD-1, Chennai District.

Crime No.08 of 2025.

Respondent(s) PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of arrest in Crime No.08 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.P.M.Jayachandran For Respondent(s):

Ms.J.R.Archana Government Advocate (Crl.side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who apprehends arrest by the respondent police for the offences punishable under Section 318(4) of BNS Act, 2023 r/w Section 66D of Information Technology Act, 2008 in Crime No. 08 of 2025, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The allegation against the petitioner is that, he joined hands with other accused involved in online investment scam, and, in the course of the said transaction, collected a sum of Rs.21.10 lakhs. Hence, a case has been registered.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a genuine trader dealing in foreign currency and that he has not collected any money from the defacto complainant or from any other person. He further submitted that he is ready to co-operate with the investigation. Hence, he prays to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that an amount of Rs.21.10 lakhs has been cheated by the petitioner along with other accused and that a sum of Rs.2 lakhs was transacted through the petitioner's bank account. She further submitted that as many as 22 cases have been registered against

the petitioner across Tamil Nadu and other parts of India, and that the petitioner's bank account has been involved in the said offences and that the investigation is still pending.

5. Considering the fact that the petitioner's bank account has been utilised in the commission of the offence and that it is reported that 22 cases have been registered against him, including three cases in the State of Tamil Nadu, this Court is of the view that if the petitioner is released on bail, at this stage, there is a likelihood of his indulging in similar activities.

6. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 21-01-2026 drl To

1. The Inspector of Police North Zone Cyber Crime Police Station, (CCW), CCD-1, Chennai District.

2.The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras.

K.RAJASEKAR, J., drl CRL OP NO.477 of 2026 21.01.2026