Ramanathan v. The Commissioner Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 13.02.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN Crl.O.P.No.2751 of 2025 C.Ramanathan ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch, The Office of Commissioner of Police, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

2.The Assistant Commissioner of Police, EDF-1 Wing, CCB, The Office of Assistant Commissioner of Police, EDF-1 Wing, Central Crime branch, Commissioner Office Building, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

3.The Manager, State Bank of India, Kolathur Branch, 65, Velavan Nagar, Redhills Road, Kolathur, Chennai 600 099. ... Respondents PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 to direct the second

respondent police to de freeze the bank account maintained by the petitioner with the third respondent bank vide Bank Account Number 20186048054 .

For Petitioner : M/s.A.R.Sindhu For R1 and R2 : Mr.R.Vinothraja, Government Advocate (crl.side).

O R D E R

This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the second respondent to de-freeze the petitioner's bank account bearing Account Number 20186048054, maintained with the third respondent Bank.

2. Heard both sides and perused the material available on record.

3. The learned Government Advocate (criminal side) submitted that the petitioner is a friend of A1, and a case has been registered against A1 and others in Crime No. 191 of 2024 for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 420, and 120B of the IPC. In pursuance

of the registration of the FIR, the petitioner's account was frozen on a request made by the second respondent. While the petitioner is not an accused in Crime No. 191 of 2024, during the investigation, the second respondent found that a sum of Rs. 5 Lakhs was transferred by A1 to the petitioner's account. Currently, a sum of Rs. 3 Lakhs remains in the petitioner's account and the investigation is still pending.

4. Considering the fact that while the investigation is pending in Crime No. 191 of 2024 and a sum of Rs. 5 Lakhs was transferred by A1 to the petitioner's account, the request made by the petitioner to defreeze the account cannot be considered at this stage. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. Further, the second respondent is directed to complete the investigation and file the final report within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

13.02.2025 : Yes/No Speaking/non-speaking order shk

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

shk To 1.The Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch, The Office of Commissioner of Police, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

2.The Assistant Commissioner of Police, EDF-1 Wing, CCB, The Office of Assistant Commissioner of Police, EDF-1 Wing, Central Crime branch, Commissioner Office Building, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

3.The Manager, State Bank of India, Kolathur Branch, 65, Velavan Nagar, Redhills Road, Kolathur, Chennai 600 099.

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

Crl.O.P.No.2751 of 2025 13.02.2025