R.Soundarraj v. The State Represented By The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 22.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR CRL OP NO.1334 of 2026 R. Soundarraj ... Petitioner/ Accused Vs The State rep. by, The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Dharmapuri, Dharmapuri District.

(FIR.No.01/Ac/2026) ... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to grant bail to the petitioner/accused in FIR.No.01/Ac/2026 on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner(s) :

Mr. C. Palanisamy For Respondent(s) :

Mr. A. Gopinath Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 06.01.2026, for the offences punishable under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended in 2018 in FIR.No.01/Ac/2026, registered on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

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2.The allegation against the petitioner who is working as Surveyor in the Harur Division, Karimangalam Taluk is that he has demanded a sum of Rs.13,000/- from the defacto complainant to conduct survey and subdivide the land. Hence the defacto complainant has registered a complaint with the respondent and accordingly after registering of the F.I.R a trap was organized and at the time of receiving the money the petitioner was caught red handed and the result of the phenolphthalein test was also positive. It is also alleged that a sum of Rs.25,000/- was also found with the petitioner on the date of occurrence. Hence the case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that there was a legal dispute to conduct survey and subdivide the land. He further submitted before the date of occurrence survey was conducted and the same was also forwarded to the concerned Head Surveyor and there is no necessity for the petitioner to demand money. Since there was a legal dispute regarding the sub-division, a false complaint was lodged and the petitioner was arrested and he was in judicial custody from 06.01.2026,. Hence prays to grant bail. 2/4

4. The learned Government Advocate reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the petitioner demanded money to discharge his official duty and phenolphthalein test was also positive and investigation in this case is not yet completed.

5. I have gone through the related documents and it is seen that only survey was conducted and sub division was not pending.

6. Considering the submissions made by both sides and the fact that a trap was laid and at the time of receiving the money the petitioner was caught red handed and the result of the phenolphthalein test was also positive and if the petitioner is released on bail he will attempt to tamper the evidence, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. 7.Accordingly, this criminal original petition stands dismissed. 22.01.2026 smn 3/4

K. RAJASEKAR, J.

smn To

1. The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Dharmapuri, Dharmapuri District.

2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras CRL OP NO.1334 of 2026 22.01.2026 4/4