Gerold George v. State Rep By The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 22-05-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL Gerold George Door No.01, Harris Tower, Puliyur Main Road, Plot No.3D, Kodambakkam, Chennai- 600 024 ..Petitioner(s)/Sole Accused Vs State rep by the Inspector of Police R-8 Vadapalani Police Station, Vadapalani, Chennai District Cr.No.92 of 2026 ..Respondent(s)/ Complainant Prayer:Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.92 of 2026 on the file of the respondent and thus render justice.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.Vignesh U Mr.N.Pratcik, Intervenor For Respondent(s):

Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) Assisted by Mr.Mohammed Imran.A

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant an order of pre-arrest bail.

2. The petitioner apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent Police for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 in Crime No.92 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police.

3. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner is running a power agency cum consultancy. The petitioner under the guise of securing job to the de-facto complainant at Canada, had received a sum of Rs.4,69,000/-. However, the petitioner neither secured a job nor returned the money to the defacto complainant. Hence the case.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the Visa of the defacto complainant was rejected and the process with regard to refund of money is under progress and therefore, he sought time for two to three months. In view of the same, he prays for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner.

5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

6. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case and also considering the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant an order of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

(i) The petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.2 Lakhs (Rupees Two Lakhs Only) in Cr.No.92 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. In turn, the learned XVII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai shall deposit the said amount in a nationalized Bank initially for a period of one year and renew them periodically until the final order / judgment is passed in the case in Crime No.92 of 2026.

(ii)The petitioner shall be released on bail in the event of his arrest or in the event of his surrender before the learned XVII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai, within a period of 30 days from today, on executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) along with two sureties each for a like sum of Rs.10,000/- to the satisfaction of the XVII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai, (iii) The petitioner shall appear and sign before the respondent

Police, weekly once on Monday until further orders; (iv) The sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the Application for Suretyship [Judicial Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019]. The learned XVII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai shall obtain a copy of any one of their identity proofs to ensure their identity;

(v) The petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by police as and when required;

(vi) 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 them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer; (vii) The petitioner shall not, directly or indirectly, cause any threat to the defacto complainant and witnesses and shall not tamper the evidence; (viii) The petitioner shall not leave India without the prior permission of the trial Court; and (ix) On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the XVII

Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned conditions are imposed by them as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K. Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005) 13 SCC 283].

8. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed subject to the conditions stated supra.

22-05-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DP/SSD 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 official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code.

To 1.The XVII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai.

2.The Inspector of Police R-8 Vadapalani Police Station, Vadapalani, Chennai District Cr.No.92 of 2026 3.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court.

R.SAKTHIVEL, J.

DP/SSD 22-05-2026