Velmurugan v. State Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 08-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Velmurugan S/o Ramasamy, No.89/34, Subbarayan 2nd Street, Nammalwarpet, perambur Barracks, Chennai-600012.

..Petitioner(s) Vs State Inspector of Police, M1 Madhavaram Police Station, Madhavaram, Chennai.

In Crime No.80 of 2025 ..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the Petitioner on anticipatory bail in Crime No.80 of 2025 in the event of his arrest in pending investigation on the file of the Respondent-Police and thus render justice.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.G.Anand Kumar For Respondent(s):

Mr.P.Dhileepan Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offence punishable under Sections 406, 420, 403 r/w 120(B) IPC in Crime No.80 of 2025, on the file of the respondent Police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner was working with the defacto complainant company as a Business Executive and, during the course of his employment, he is alleged to have misappropriated a sum of Rs.76 lakhs during the period between March 2023 and September 2023. It is further alleged that the said misappropriation came to light only in the year 2025 during the course of an audit, and thereafter, the present FIR came to be registered.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case and he has not committed any such offence as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that the co-accused was released on bail by this Court in Crl.OP.No.8106 of 2026 dated 01.04.2026. Hence, he prays to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and, upon instructions, submitted that the alleged occurrence took place between March 2023 and September 2023, whereas the FIR was registered on 02.02.2025. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

5. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions.

6. Taking into consideration of the period of occurrence between March 2023 and September 2023 and the registration of the FIR in February 2025 and that the co-accused was released on bail by this Court, this Court is of the firm view that at this length of time, no custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required. Hence, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail, subject to certain conditions.

7. 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 District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate, Madhavaram at Tiruvallur 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: (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 daily at 10.30 am and 5.30 p.m for a period of 30 days and thereafter as and when required for interrogation; (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.

08-04-2026 DRL To 1.The District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate, Madhavaram, Tiruvallur District.

2. The Inspector of Police, M1 Madhavaram Police Station, Madhavaram, Chennai.

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

DRL 08-04-2026