Rajesh Bhandari v. The State Rep By Its, The Inspector Of Police
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 08-04-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN and CRL MP No. 6428 of 2026
1. Rajesh Bhandari
2. Ritu Bhandari ..Petitioners Vs The State Rep by its, The Inspector of Police Central Crime Branch-I (C.C.B-I), Vepery, Chennai - 600 007.
Crime No.105 of 2024 ..Respondents Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under section 482 of BNSS to enlarge the petitioners on bail in the event of arrest in Crime No. 105 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police station.
For Petitioners:
Mr.Rajeshkrishanan R For Respondent:
Mr.P.Dhileepan Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For Intervenor:
Mr.R.Krishnan
ORDER
The petitioners apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Sections 406, 420 and 34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 in Crime No.105 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police seek anticipatory bail.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that he has already been granted anticipatory bail on 12.09.2024 in Crl.OP.No.13116 of 2024. However, he was not in a position to execute sureties and hence, the above order got lapsed. However, he submitted that the petitioners are appearing before the respondent in furtherance of summons.
3. At this juncture, the learned counsel for the Intervenor submitted that this Court has granted anticipatory bail on 21.06.2024 to A2 and A3 on condition to pay Rs.40 lakhs. Thereafter, by virtue of the subsequent order the amount of Rs.40 lakhs was modified as Rs.10 lakhs and in furtherance thereof they have enlarged on anticipatory bail.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that though this Court has granted anticipatory bail in the year 2024, since the petitioners have not complied with the direction, the intervenor was constrained to file an application to cancel the bail and it is upon the application, bail was cancelled on 17.02.2026. Only after cancellation of bail, the petitioners have come up with the present bail application.
5. The learned counsel for the Intervenor further submitted that the money misappropriated by the petitioners amounts to Rs.1.47 crore.
6. From the above submissions, it is amply clear that the petitioners are playing with the Court and having obtained bail for reason best known to them has not complied with the condition which necessitated this Court again to look into the matter, and by virtue of order dated 17.02.2026, the anticipatory bail was cancelled. In furtherance thereof, the present application has been filed. Therefore, this Court is of a firm view that the petitioners are playing with the precious time of the Court and causing hindrances to the thousands of people who are awaiting to get justice. Therefore, though this Court inclined to enlarge the petitioners on anticipatory bail, in view of the earlier order in Crl.OP.No.13116 of 2024, this Court is inclined to impose stringent 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 (15) days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned Spl CCB Metropolitan Magistrate at Egmore, Chennai on condition that the petitioners shall execute a separate bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only), with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on further conditions: (i) The petitioners are ordered to be enlarged on bail on condition that the petitioners shall deposit a sum of
Rs.10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs only) totally to the credit of Crime No.105 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
(ii) On such deposit being made, the Trial Court shall redeposit the said amount in a Fixed Deposit Account, in any one of the Nationalised Banks, renewable thereafter periodically. The disbursal of this amount shall be decided at the culmination of the Criminal Original Petition. (iii) If the petitioners fails to surrender before the concerned learned Magistrate within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, this order shall stand automatically cancelled;
(iv) 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 identify proofs to ensure their identity;
(v) The petitioners shall also deposit a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) each, totalling Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) (Non refundable) towards the account of CANCER INSTITUTE (WIA), Adayar, Savings Bank Account maintained at Union Bank of India, Madhya Kailash Branch, Cancer Institute(WIA),
Dr.S.Krishnamurthi Campus, Sardar Patel Road, Chennai-36, bearing SB Account No.149710011005477, IFSC Code No.UBIN0814971, Branch Name and Code 814971, MICR No.600026110 and to produce the Bank Challan before the concerned Magistrate and the receipt shall be produced at the time of executing the bond;
(vi) The petitioners shall report before the respondent Police, everyday at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and as and when required for interrogation;
(vii) On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate actions against the petitioners in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioners released on anticipatory bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji v. State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560];
(viii) If the petitioners thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act.
08-04-2026 SHL
To:
1. The Spl CCB Metropolitan Magistrate Egmore, Chennai
2. The Inspector of Police Central Crime Branch-I (C.C.B-I), Vepery, Chennai - 600 007.
3. The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras
C.KUMARAPPAN J.
SHL and CRL MP No. 6428 of 2026 08-04-2026