Manikandan v. The Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09-03-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Manikandan Govindaraj, No.331/169, Aandalvadi Natham, Marimanikuppam, Poongulam, Tirupathur District.

..Petitioner(s) Vs State represented by:

The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Tirupattur, Tirupattur District.

Crime No.03/2026 ..Respondent(s) PRAYER: The Criminal Original Petition has been filed under Section 483 of B.N.S.S. praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime.No.03/2026 pending investigation on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner(s):

Mr. E.Kannadasan For Respondent(s):

Mr. S. Vinoth Kumar, Government Advocate (Criminal side).

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 17.01.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 5(m), 6 of POCSO Act and

Sections 137(2), 65(2), 115(2) and 351(2) of B.N.S. in Crime No.3 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner, a married man, committed aggravated sexual assault on a victim girl, aged about 10 years and also threatened her not to disclose to anyone about the same. Hence the case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that the petitioner is ready and willing to abide by any condition that may be imposed by this Court and hence prayed for grant of\ bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and strongly objected to enlarge the petitioner on bail and he has also submitted the statement of the victim girl filed under Section 183 of B.N.S.S..

5. From the submissions made by the learned Government Advocate, it is amply clear that this is a case of an aggrevated sexual assault. Considering the age of the victim girl about 10 years, this Court is of the view that if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, there is every possibility of tampering of

witnesses. In such view of the position, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail at this juncture.

6. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 09-03-2026 MJS 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 Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

2. The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Tirupattur, Tirupattur District.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

MJS 09-03-2026