N.Praveen v. State Represented By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 31.07.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR N.Praveen .. Petitioner/A5 Vs.

The State Rep by, The Inspector of Police, CCB-I, Chennai.

(Crime No.37 of 2025) .. Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.37 of 2025 on the file of the Inspector of Police, CCB-I, Chennai.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mohamednazar For Respondent : Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam Government Advocate (Crl.Side) Page No.1 of 6

ORDER

The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 121(1)(b), 12(1A)(a), 12(2) of Passport Act, 1967 and 318(4), 336(3), 340(2) of BNS, 2023 in Crime No.37 of 2025, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner/A5, who is an employee under A3 and A6, partners of a travel agency. The petitioner's role is that of an office boy, whose job is to submit documents to the concerned VISA agency and others. In this case, A1 and A2, who are Srilankans, wanted to extend their stay in India. Their passport and travel documents were submitted to the VISA agency for a UK Schengen VISA; later, it was found that the passport was a forged one. Since the petitioner, acting as a delivery boy, had delivered the documents, he is implicated in this case.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent, has not committed any offence, as alleged by the prosecution and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits Page No.2 of 6

that the petitioner is ready and willing to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prays to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. A counter affidavit was filed by the respondent.

5. Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent Police while opposing the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner reiterated the prosecution case.

6. Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for the respondent Police and perused the materials available on record, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner with 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 days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Additional Court for Exclusive Trial for CCB Cases, Egmore on condition that the Page No.3 of 6

petitioner shall 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 respondent police or the police officer who intends to arrest or to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on proof of payment of deposits, failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further condition that:

[a] if the petitioner fails to surrender before the said Magistrate within a period of fifteen days, this order shall stand automatically cancelled;

[b] 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 Magistrate shall obtain a copy of any one of identify proofs to ensure their identity;

[c] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police for a period of two weeks and thereafter, as and when required for further interrogation;

[d] the petitioner shall not directly or indirectly cause any threat to the de facto complainant and witnesses and shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;

[e] the petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a Police office as and when required; Page No.4 of 6

[f] the petitioner to give an undertaking that if required for being identified by witnesses during investigation or for Police custody beyond the first fifteen days, he shall comply to the directions as may be given by the Court in this regard; [g] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

[h] 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];

[i] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS.

31.07.2025 cda To 1.The Additional Court for Exclusive Trial for CCB Cases, Egmore .

2.The Inspector of Police, CCB-I, Chennai.

3.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Chennai.

Page No.5 of 6

M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.

cda 31.07.2025 Page No.6 of 6