Pravinraj v. State Rep.By, The Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 03.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP NO. 4424 of 2026 Pravinraj Petitioner Vs The State rep. by The Inspector of Police Cyber Crime Police Station, South Zone, CCD-1, Chennai.

(Crime No.3 of 2026) Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest pending investigation in Cr.No. 3 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.Kumaraguru For Respondent : Mr.S.Vinoth Kumar Government Advocate (Criminal Side) ----

O R D E R

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 30.01.2026 for the alleged offences under Section 192, 196, 353 (1)(b), 353(2) of BNS, 2023, in Crime No.3 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

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2. The case of the prosecution is that when the murder case of a North Indian is under investigation, the petitioner alleged to have tweeted in social media with a false news against the ruling Government to spread rumours and to incite public unrest. Hence the case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has post in a Twitter 'after death of two persons those who belongs to Bihar State and has posted Tamil Nadu is not safe for North Indians under the regime of DMK. In pursuance of the same, petitioner was remanded by the Cyber Wing to the police on 30.01.2026. The learned counsel further would submit that now the petitioner has realized the mistake and has filed an affidavit before this Court tendering his unconditional apology and also expressed his deep regret and further not to post any information in the social media without verifying the factual positions.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent strongly objected that the statement has got great embarrassment to the Government.

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5. Since the petitioner has realized his mistake and that he has been incarceration since 30.01.2026 and also taking into considerations of the remorse felt by the petitioner to his act and considering the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with stringent conditions.

6. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each, with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai, and subject to the following conditions:

[a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the Application for Surety ship [Judicial Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019']. The learned Magistrate shall obtain a copy of any one of the identity proofs to ensure their identity;

[b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police in the morning at 10.30 AM for a period four weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation;

[c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

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[d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [e] on breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions had been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court itself, as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)13 SCC 283];

[f] if the petitioners thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR may be registered under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

03.03.2026 mtl Note:

1. Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court.

2. All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code. 4/6

To 1.The XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai. 2.The Inspector of Police Cyber Crime Police Station, South Zone, CCD-1, Chennai.

3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. 5/6

C.KUMARAPPAN mtl Crl.O.P.No. 4424 of 2026 03.03.2026 6/6