Ranvir R Shah v. State Rep. By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated: 28.01.2026 Coram:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN Crl.M.P.No.10945 of 2024 in Crl.O.P.No.23623 of 2018 --- Ranvir R Shah .. Petitioner Vs.
State rep. by Deputy Superintendent of Police Idol Wing CID, Chennai - 600 032 Crime No.2 of 2016 .. Respondent Prayer: Criminal Miscellaneous Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. to modify the condition imposed on the petitioner with regard to return of passport bearing No.Z2356205 and permit the petitioner to take back the passport now in custody of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Idol Wing, CID, Chennai, in Crime No.2 of 2016, enabling the petitioner to travel abroad, in Crl.O.P.No.23623 of 2018 dated 01.11.2018. For Petitioner : Mr.I.Palani Muthu For Respondent : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor 1 / 5
ORDER
(The Order of the Court was made by P.Velmurugan, J) This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition has been filed to modify the condition imposed on the petitioner in Crl.O.P.No.23623 of 2018 dated 01.11.2018 and permit the petitioner to take back his passport bearing No.Z2356205, now in custody of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Idol Wing, CID, Chennai, in connection with Crime No.2 of 2016, enabling the petitioner to travel abroad.
2. The case of the petitioner is that he had filed a petition before this Court in Crl.O.P.No.23623 of 2018 seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.2 of 2016, registered for the offences under Sections 457(2), 380(2), 411(2) and 120B IPC and Section 25(1) of Antiquities and Art Treasures Act and when the matter came up before this Court on 01.11.2018, this Court had directed the petitioner to surrender his passport to the Investigating Officer forthwith. Accordingly, he surrendered his passport to the Investigating Officer. Subsequently, by order dated 21.12.2018, the petitioner was granted anticipatory bail. Thereafter, the petitioner filed petitions before this Court seeking return of passport as he was forced to travel abroad for business and other reasons, however the same were dismissed. Subsequently, by order dated 30.08.2022 in W.P.No.20707 of 2022, the passport was returned to the petitioner for the purpose of renewal and after renewing the same, the petitioner surrendered the passport to the 2 / 5
Investigating Officer on 18.10.2022. The grievance of the petitioner is that since 2018, the petitioner is not able to travel abroad even for his business and family functions. The petitioner is a reputed businessman dealing with export of garments and vegetables by employing nearly 600 women and at present, he has to compulsorily travel abroad for the purpose of his business and for various family functions. Hence, the present petition has been filed seeking return of passport to the petitioner otherwise grave prejudice and irreparable injury will be caused to him.
3. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents submitted that the petitioner is involved in idol theft. The investigation has already been completed and the charge sheet has also been filed and the same has not been taken on file.
4. Taking into account that the petitioner was involved in a serious offence, this Court is not inclined to modify the said condition.
5. Accordingly, this Criminal Miscellaneous Petition is dismissed. (P.V., J) (M.J.R., J) 28.01.2026 ksa-2 3 / 5
To
1. The Deputy Superintendent of Police Idol Wing CID, Chennai - 600 032
2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
4 / 5
P.VELMURUGAN, J and M.JOTHIRAMAN, J ksa-2 28.01.2026 5 / 5