Rajendran v. The State By, The Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Rajendran ..Petitioner Vs The State by, The Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Ariyalur District.

Crime No.7 of 2019.

..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in C.C.No.7 of 2021 pending on file of the Judicial Magistrate -I, Ariyalur in Crime No.7 of 2019.

For Petitioner:

Mr.C.Ganesh Pandian For Respondent:

Mr.S.Vinoth Kumar, Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 16.08.2025 for the alleged offences under Sections 294(b), 417, 420, 506(i) of Indian Penal Code, 1860, in Crime No.07 of 2019 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner had cheated a sum of Rs.22,70,481/- from the defacto complainant under the guise of arranging jobs

in Qatar. It is further seen that at the time of registration of FIR, the petitioner was abroad and thereafter an absconding charge sheet was filed. Since the petitioner failed to appear before the Trial Court, NBW was issued on 08.09.2022 and the petitioner was secured and arrested on 16.08.2025.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was in abroad and confined in Qatar Central Prison in connection with other cases and therefore he was not aware of the proceedings pending before the Trial Court. The learned counsel would further submit that the petitioner has been remanded to judicial custody on 16.08.2025 and that witnesses LW1 to LW3 have already been examined. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that this is a case of the year 2019 and the petitioner absconded from 08.09.2022 and was secured only after a period of nearly three years. It is further submitted that due to the conduct of the petitioner, there was delay in proceeding with the trial. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) would submit that though LW1 to LW3 have been examined, if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, there is every possibility that he may again abscond and delay the trial. Hence, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side.

6. Considering the submission of the learned counsel on either side, this Court is of the view that from the factual position, it is seen that the petitioner had absconded for more than three years and was secured only through Look Out Notice. As rightly contended by the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side), the conduct of the petitioner indicates flight risk and the case is of the year 2019 and the trial has already commenced. Considering the above facts and the possibility of the petitioner again absconding, this Court is of the view that this is not an appropriate stage to consider the bail application.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 17-04-2026 NSL To

1. The Judicial Magistrate-I, Ariyalur.

2. Central Prison, Tirchirapalli.

3. The Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Ariyalur District.

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

NSL 17-04-2026