Ashok @ Ashokumar v. State Rep By

T.V.THAMILSELVI, J.

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 26.03.2024 for the alleged offence under Section 174 of Cr.P.C. and subsequently altered into Sec.306 I.P.C. r/w Sec.4(B)(I) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, in Crime No.320 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of prosecution is that he is a medical shop owner and the deceased is a 62 years old woman. There was a money transaction between the deceased and accused, who is a landlord and on the date of occurrence, when he demanded to repay the amount, there was an interaction between them. Aggrieved that, she set fire on her by opening a gas cylinder and committed suicide. Hence, the complaint was registered against the petitioner.

3. The learned counsel appearing for petitioner submitted that there is no quarrel or motive for the petitioner to abet the suicide of deceased 1/4

person. He would submit that as both have jointly decided to do finance business to lend money and gain profit by interest, he borrowed a sum of Rs.7,00,000/- from her, however, the person who received amount had eloped the place, due to which, he was not able to pay the amount to her, for which she blamed him except that, there is no other incident happened between them. Furthermore, the accident happened only due to a gas cylinder explosion. Hence, he he has not at all committed any of offence as alleged by the respondent police and he has been falsely implicated in this case and he will abide by any condition that may be imposed by this court. He would further submit that the investigation is almost completed and that the petitioner has been suffering incarceration f from 26.03.2024. Hence, he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for respondent would submit that there was a finance transaction between the deceased and the petitioner, in which on the date of occurrence, there was an interaction between them, due to which deceased committed suicide by setting fire on her on opening a gas cylinder. He would submit that that if he is released on bail, he would tamper the witnesses and hamper the 2/4

investigation and investigation is at the preliminary stage. Hence, he vehemently opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. Considering the above facts and circumstances, and according to the prosecution, there was a money transaction between the deceased and the accused, who is a landlord and when he demanded to repay the amount, there was an interaction between them, aggrieved over the same, she set fire on her on opening a gas cylinder and committed suicide and subsequently died and the fact that investigation is at preliminary stage and at this stage, if he is released on bail, he may abscond and there is possibility of tampering the witnesses and hampering investigation, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed.

24.04.2024 rpp 3/4

T.V. THAMILSELVI, J.

rpp Crl.O.P.No. 10010 of 2024 24.04.2024 4/4