Raja Venugopal v. The State Rep. By The Inspector Of Police
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 09-04-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN
1. Raja Venugopal
2. Sathish K
3. Raja
4. Vijaya Kumar
5. Vasanthi Sathish
6. Bharathi
7. Kalpana Raja ..Petitioner(s) Vs The State Rep. by The Inspector of Police Kalasapakkam Police Station, Thiruvannamalai District.
Crime No.67 of 2026 ..Respondent(s) R.Dhandapani ..Intervener(s) [Permitted to intervene vide order dated 09.04.2026 made in Crl.M.P.No.6514/2026 in Crl.O.P.No.7696/2026] Criminal Original Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to enlarge the petitioners on bail in the event of their arrest in respect of Crime No.67 of 2026, on the file of the Inspector of Police, Kalasapakkam Police Station, Thiruvannamalai District, pending investigation and thus render justice.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.S.B.Viswanathan For Respondent(s):
Mr.P.Dhileepan Government Advocate (Criminal Side) For Intervener(s):
Mr.B.Jawahar
ORDER
The petitioners, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 189(2), 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), 351(3) and 324(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in Crime No.67 of 2026, seek anticipatory bail.
2. The case of the prosecution is that, on 15.03.2026, when the defacto complainant was returning home on his two-wheeler, he witnessed the first petitioner quarrelling with one Gnanavel and started recording the same on his mobile phone. At that time, the first petitioner is alleged to have assaulted the defacto complainant with a stone, and the other accused also joined and attacked him by pelting stones and using wooden logs. They are also alleged to have criminally intimidated him. As a result, the defacto complainant sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital. Hence, the case.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the allegations made in the complaint are false and that the petitioners are innocent
and have not committed any offence as alleged. He would further submit that A2 has already been released on station bail and that the petitioners 5 to 8 are women. Hence, he prayed for grant of anticipatory bail.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the intervenor/defacto complainant submitted that when the defacto complainant was recording the quarrel between Kumar, Raja Venugopal and Gnanavel, the petitioners noticed the same and attacked him and also abused him. The defacto complainant sustained head injuries and was hospitalised. Hence, he strongly objected to the grant of anticipatory bail.
5. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police, on instructions, submitted that the petitioners abused the defacto complainant in filthy language, assaulted him and threatened him with dire consequences. He further submitted that the investigation is pending and that the injured was admitted in the hospital on 15.03.2026 and discharged on 18.03.2026.
6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side.
7. In the present case, according to the prosecution, the defacto complainant was not connected with the occurrence and had merely recorded the incident. However, he was attacked by the accused. Though the allegations are serious in nature, this Court takes into consideration the fact that A2 has already been released on station bail and that the injured has been discharged from the hospital. Further, the petitioners 5 to 8 are women. Considering the above facts and circumstances, this Court is of the view that custodial interrogation of the petitioners is not necessary. Hence, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners, subject to certain conditions.
8. 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 Districtcum-Judicial Magistrate's Court, Kalasapakkam, Thiruvannamalai District, on condition that the petitioners shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) each, with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on further conditions: (a) If the petitioner(s) 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(s) shall report before the Inspector of Police, Salem Town Police Station, Bazaar Street, Anna Colony, Salem, everyday at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation;
(d) the petitioner(s) 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 actions against the petitioner(s) in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner(s) 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];
(f) If the petitioner(s) thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act.
09-04-2026 (2/2) Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Jeni To 1.The District-cum-Judicial Magistrate's Court, Kalasapakkam, Thiruvannamalai District.
2.The Inspector of Police, Kalasapakkam Police Station, Thiruvannamalai District.
3.The Inspector of Police, Salem Town Police Station, Bazaar Street, Anna Colony, Salem 4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.
C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
Jeni 09-04-2026 (2/2)