Manivel v. State Represented By

C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.

The petitioners/Accused Nos. 4 to 6, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 294(b), 506(i) of Indian Penal Code read with Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002 and Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, in Crime No. 30 of 2023, seek anticipatory bail.

2. It is stated that earlier the accused Nos. 1 to 6 had filed Crl.O.P.No. 25830 of 2023 and by an order dated 21.11.2023, the same had been dismissed.

3. It is the case of prosecution that an engagement had been conducted between the first accused and the defacto complainant, but there had been a subsequent break down in the relationship.

4. Let me not enter into a discussion on the reasons for such break down. But however, after the engagement, the first accused had refused to marry the defacto complainant.

5. The learned counsel for the petitioners stated that these petitioners are only relatives and are in no way connected and they can never force the first accused to actually marry anybody.

6. Taking all the factors into consideration, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners with certain conditions. 7.Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Additional District Mahila Court, Cuddalore, on condition that the petitioners shall execute a separate bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten thousand only) each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the respondent police or the police officer who intends to arrest or to the satisfaction of this Court concerned, failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further condition that:

[a] the petitioners and the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity.

[b] the first petitioner shall appear before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogtaion and the second and third petitioners shall appear before the respondent police as and when required for interrogation.

[c] the petitioners shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial.

[d] the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial.

[e] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioners in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioners 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].

[f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 229A IPC.

05.02.2024 vsg

C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.

Vsg 05.02.2024