Prabhu @ Prabakaran v. The State Rep.By, The Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 22.04.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Prabhu @ Prabakaran ... Petitioner Vs.

The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by The Inspector of Police, CBCID Police Station, Cuddalore District.

Crime No.4 of 2025 ... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, praying to enlarge the petitioner's anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.4 of 2025 pending investigation on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Varun Vignesh For Respondent : Mr.P.Dhileepan, Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

O R D E R

The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 120B, 420, 419, 465, 468, 471 and 506 of IPC, in Crime No.4 of 2025, on the file of the respondent 1/6

Police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The allegation against the petitioner is that he was a partner of A1 in this case, and A1 claimed that he was entitled to receive a huge amount from the RBI, for which he demanded an advance payment. Accordingly, a sum of Rs.30 lakhs was received from the de facto complainant. Subsequently, it was revealed that the petitioner and the other accused had cheated the de facto complainant. Hence, a case has been registered.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is arrayed as A2 in this case and that he has been falsely implicated. He further submitted that the allegation of the petitioner having claimed himself to be an RBI Officer is false. He also submitted that A1 has already been released on bail. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the investigation and, hence, prayed for grant of anticipatory bail.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and, upon instructions, submitted that the petitioner has bad antecedents, with two previous cases, 2/6

including one under Section 420 IPC and another under the Arms Act. He further submitted that it is a case of cheating, wherein the petitioner and others had impersonated themselves as RBI officials. Hence, he opposed the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

5. While looking into the factual aspects, the only overt act alleged against the petitioner is that he impersonated himself as an RBI Officer. The occurrence took place in 2017, whereas the FIR came to be registered in 2025. Hence, at this length of time, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required and this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail, subject to the following conditions:

6. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Cuddalore, Cuddalore District, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a 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: 3/6

(a) If the petitioner 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;

(b) 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;

(c) The petitioner shall report before the respondent police as and when required for investigation; (d) On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate actions against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner 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];

(e) If the petitioner thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act.

22.04.2026 cda 4/6

To 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Cuddalore, Cuddalore District.

2.The Inspector of Police, CBCID Police Station, Cuddalore District.

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

5/6

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

cda 22.04.2026 6/6