L.Hariharan v. The State Rep By The Inspector Of Police
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 26.02.2026 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR Crl.O.P.No.4701 of 2026 L.Hariharan ... Petitioner -vsState through The Inspector of Police, Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Coimbatore.
(Crime No.01 of 2026) ... Respondent Prayer:- Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, to enlarge the petitioner Crime No.01 of 2026, on the file of respondent Police. For Petitioner :
Mr.I.Calvin Jones For Respondent :
Mr.A.Gopinath, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) *********
ORDER
The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 23.01.2026 for the alleged offences punishable under Section 07(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, in Crime No.01 of 2026, registered on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. 1/5
2. The allegation against the petitioner is that the de-facto complainant applied for a copy of legal heir certificate, and the petitioner, who was working as a Record Clerk, allegedly demanded Rs.10,000/- as bribe for issuing the same. Upon a complaint by the de-facto complainant, the respondent Police laid a trap, during which the petitioner was allegedly caught red-handed while receiving Rs.7,000/-. Hence, the FIR was registered.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that the petitioner has been in incarceration since 23.01.2026 and has been suspended from service. He further submitted that though the phenolphthalein test was positive, the petitioner is ready to co-operate with the investigation. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the petitioner has been in incarceration from 23.01.2026 and that the investigation is still pending. He further submitted that the petitioner is not presently serving in the concerned Department. Hence, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.
5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side, the nature of the allegations, the period of his incarceration, the fact that 2/5
the petitioner is not serving in the concerned Department, and though investigation is pending, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner
7. 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) with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Principal District & Session Judge, Coimbatore, and on further conditions that:
[a] 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 petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of three weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation. [c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;
[d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness 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 petitioner in accordance with law as if the 3/5
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];
[f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.
24.02.2026 nvi 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.
To 1.The Principal District & Session Judge, Coimbatore. 2.The Inspector of Police, Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Coimbatore.
3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Coimbatore.
4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
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K. RAJASEKAR, J.
nvi Crl.O.P.No.4701 of 2026 26.02.2026 5/5