Ragupathi v. State Rep. By Inspector Of Police
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 14-05-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P. DHANABAL CRL.O.P.No.12781 of 2026 Ragupathi ..Petitioner Vs State Rep. by Inspector of Police AWPS - East, Coimbatore City.
Crime No. 11/2026.
..Respondent PRAYER: - The Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 483 of B.N.S.S., Act, to enlarge the petitioner on Bail in Crime No. 11 of 2026 on the file of the Respondent police, pending investigation and thus render justice. For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Arjun Visvanathan For Respondent :
Mr.V.J.Priyadarsana, Government Advocate.
ORDER
The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 17.03.2026 for the alleged offence under Sections 15(1), 15(2) of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 351(2) of BNS, in Crime No11 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.
2. The case of the prosecution is that the de facto complainant is the father of the victim minor girl. It is alleged that the petitioner lured the victim
minor girl through Snapchat under the guise of love and, by making false promises, induced her to take and send nude photographs of herself, to which the victim minor girl complied. Thereafter, the petitioner continuously threatened and intimidated the victim minor girl through Instagram, and subsequently subjected her to penetrative sexual assault. Based on the complaint lodged by the father of the victim minor girl, the respondent police registered the present case against the petitioner, following which he was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 17.03.2026.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the respondent police have registered a false case against the petitioner. The petitioner is under judicial custody since 17.03.2026. He further submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Therefore, he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner. Hence, he vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner.
5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. Considering the rival submissions made on either side, the nature of the offenses alleged against the accused, the period of incarceration already undergone by him, and the fact that there are no adverse previous cases against the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions:
[a] Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on condition to execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Sessions Judge, Principal Special Court for Exclusive Trial of cases under POCSO Act, Coimbatore and on further conditions that:
[b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30.a.m., until further orders; [c] the petitioner shall not commit any offence similar to the offence of which she is accused, or suspected, or of the commission of which she is suspected;
[d] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;
[e] the petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade her from disclosing such facts to
the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence; [f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Judicial 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].
[g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.2023.
14.05.2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order kmm Note:
1. Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court.
2. All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code.
To
1. The Inspector of Police, AWPS - East, Coimbatore City.
2. The Sessions Judge, Principal Special Court for Exclusive Trial of cases under POCSO Act, Coimbatore.
3. The Superintendent, Central Jail, Coimbatore.
4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.
P.DHANABAL, J.
kmm CRL.O.P.No.12781 of 2026 14.05.2026