Keluthi @ Balakrishnan v. State Rep By,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Dated : 10.02.2021 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.BHARATHIDASAN Crl.O.P.No.2354 of 2021 Keluthi @ Balakrishnan ... Petitioner Vs.

State by The Inspector of Police, Muthupettai Police Station, Tiruvarur Dt.

(Crime No.2541 of 2020) ... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 439 of Criminal Procedure Code to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.2541 of 2020 pending investigation on the file of the Respondent.

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Palanivel For Respondent : Mrs.M. Prabhavathi, Addl. Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

(The case has been heard through video conference) The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 11.01.2021 for the offence punishable under Sections 379 and 430 of I.P.C. in Crime No.2541 of 2020 on the file of respondent, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner is a driver of the vehicle. On the date of occurrence, while the respondent police was in patrol duty at North Graveyard at Vadiyakkadu, they found that the petitioner said to have transported 1⁄2 unit of river sand in his vehicle without having valid license. Hence, the criminal case has been registered against the petitioner and he was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 11.01.2021.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he is no way connected with the offence. He would submit that he has been falsely implicated as accused in this case and he was in judicial custody for more than one month. Hence, he prays for grant of bail.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent submitted that the petitioner is the driver of the vehicle and he has transported 1⁄2 unit of river sand illegally without having valid license. She has further submitted that there are six previous cases pending against the petitioner. However, she opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. I have heard and considered the rival submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for petitioner as well as learned Additional Public Prosecutor and perused the records.

6. Taking into consideration of the facts and circumstances, now the investigation is almost completed, and also considering the period of incarceration suffered by the petitioner from 11.01.2021, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

(a) Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on condition to execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Tiruthuraipoondi and on further conditions that:

(b) the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the learned Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar Card or Bank Pass Book to ensure their identity;

(c) the petitioner, on his release from prison, shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., for the period of two weeks;

(d) the petitioner shall not commit any offences of similar nature;

(e) the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

(f) the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;

(g) on breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Judicial Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560];

(h) if the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 229A IPC.

7. With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition is ordered.

-sd/- 10/02/2021 This order, on being produced, be punctually observed and carried into execution by all concerned TRUE COPY Sub-Assistant Registrar (Statistics/C.S.) High Court, Madras - 600 104.

TO 1 THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, TIRUTHURAIPOONDI.

2 THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE TIRUVARUR [FOR INFORMATION] 3 THE SUPERINTENDENT, DISTRICT PRISON, NAGAPATTINAM.

4 THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT, MADRAS.

5 THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, MUTHUPETTAI POLICE STATION, THIRUVARUR DISTRICT.

+1CC to M/S.N.PALANIVEL Advocate on payment of necessary charges SR NO.1372 CRL OP.2354/2021 Date :10/02/2021 MK:11/02/2021