B.Vikram v. The State Rep By, The Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 19.03.2025

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN Crl.O.P.No.6785 of 2025 B. Vikram, M/A 26 years S/o. Bala Krishnan ... Petitioner/Accused-1 Vs.

State represented by The Inspector of Police, Cyber Crime Branch, Delta-4 Chennai District (Crime No.7 of 2025) ... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, to enlarge the petitioner on bail, in connection with the Crime No.07 of 2025, on the file of the respondent Police.

For Petitioner : Mr. S. Ganesan For Respondent : Mr. Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 1/6

O R D E R

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 06.02.2025, seeking bail in Crime No.07 of 2025 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 79, 296 of BNS Act and Sections 66D and 67 of IT(A).

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner hacked the Twitter account of the defacto complainant and posted the morphed images of the Deputy Chief Minister in an abusive and vulgar manner to defame the reputation of the complainant and thus committed the aforesaid offence.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the allegations against the petitioner are false; that without prejudice to the prosecution the petitioner has now filed an apology affidavit stating that he would not indulge in such activities in future. He would further submit that in any case since further custody of the petitioner is not required , the petitioner may be released on bail. 2/6

4. Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police, reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the post made in the Twitter account of the defacto complainant has now been removed.

5. Considering the affidavit filed by the petitioner, which is taken on record, and the aforesaid facts and that since further custody of the petitioner is not required for the purpose of investigation, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

6. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) with two sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Metropolitan Magistrate-XI, Saidapet, 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;

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[b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders; [c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

[d] the petitioner shall not tamper with 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 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.

19.03.2025 bga 4/6

To

1. The Metropolitan Magistrate-XI, Saidapet.

2. The Inspector of Police, Cyber Crime Branch, Delta-4 Chennai District (Crime No.7 of 2025)

3. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Puzhal.

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

SUNDER MOHAN., J.

bga Crl.O.P.No.6785 of 2025 19.03.2025 6/6