Gnanaprakash v. The State Rep. By Its Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 15.04.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN Crl.O.P.No.10820 of 2025 Gnanaprakash

...Petitioner/Accused

Vs.

State rep by The Inspector of Police, Sathyamangalam Police Station, Erode District.

(Crime No.114 of 2025) ...

Respondent PRAYER: This criminal original petition has been filed under Section 483 of BNSS to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.114 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police.

For Petitioner :

Mr.R.Karthikeyan For Respondent :

Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam Government Advocate (Crl. Side) Page No.1 of 6

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 14.03.2025, seeking bail in Crime No.114 of 2025 registered for the offence under Section316(5) of BNS, 2023.

2.It is the case of the prosecution that the defacto complainant is the Judicial Magistrate, Judicial Magistrate Court, Sathyamangalam; that the petitioner is the Head Clerk of the said Court; that while the petitioner was working as Head Clerk, he had committed misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs.3,39,170/-. Hence, the case.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and he has no bad antecedents; that the petitioner is in custody from 14.03.2025 and that in any case, further custody of the petitioner is not required and sought for bail. Page No.2 of 6

4.Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the total misappropriated amount is Rs.3,39,170/- and that the petitioner has no bad antecedents. 5.At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioner voluntarily submitted that the petitioner, in order to show his bonafide, is ready and willing to deposit the entire amount of Rs.3,39,170/- (Rupees Three Lakh Thirty Nine Thousand One Hundred and Seventy only) to the credit of Crime No.114 of 2025, without prejudice to his defence. 6.Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

7.Considering the nature of allegations, period of incarceration, the fact that the petitioner has no bad antecedents and the submission that the petitioner is willing to deposit an amount of Rs.3,39,170/- to the credit of Page No.3 of 6

Crime No.114 of 2025 and since further custody of the petitioner is not required for the purpose of investigation, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

8. Accordingly, the petitioner is directed to deposit a sum of Rs.3,39,170/- (Rupees Three Lakh Thirty Nine Thousand One Hundred and Seventy only) to the credit of Crime No.114 of 2025 before the trial Court, on such deposit and production of proof, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) with two sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the Judicial Magistrate, Sathyamangalam, and on further conditions that:

[a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity; [b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, everyday at 10.30 a.m., until further orders; Page No.4 of 6

[c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [d] the petitioner 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 action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560];

[f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.

15.04.2025 ata Copy to:

1.The Inspector of Police, Sathyamangalam Police Station, Erode District. 2.The Judicial Magistrate, Sathyamangalam.

3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Coimbatore. 4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras. Page No.5 of 6

SUNDER MOHAN, J.

ata Crl.O.P.No.10820 of 2025 15.04.2025 Page No.6 of 6