R.S.R.Ramprasad v. The State Rep.By Its,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 29-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN R.S.R.Ramprasad S/o.Shanmuga Rajeswara Sethupathy, 901-B, Greenwood Hiranandani, OMR, Chennai-603103, Bazaar Street, Salavakkam, Kancheepuram district-603107.

..Petitioner(s) Vs The State rep.by its, The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, EDF-I, Beta-II, i/c.Beta-1, Vepery, Chennai-600007.

Cr.No.191/2024.

..Respondent(s) Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in Cr.No.191 of 202r on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner(s):

Mr.R.Arjun Jeyapal For Respondent(s):

Mr.N.Palanivel, Govt.Advocate (Crl.Side) ******

ORDER

The petitioner, who apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 r/w 120(B) of IPC in Crime No.191 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner along with other accused are said to have cheated the de facto complainant. Hence, a case has been registered.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the de facto complainant and the first accused had a business relationship and in this regard, a cheating complaint was already filed against A1 to A4. Initially, this petitioner was summoned as a witness. The learned counsel would invite the attention of this Court about the order dated 17.03.2026 made in Crl.OP.No.6827 of 2026, wherein this Court has disposed the anticipatory bail on the ground that the respondent police issued only witness summons. Now that the respondent police implicated the petitioner as A5 only on the pretext that he has got transaction with A1. Hence, he prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The said contention was strongly objected by the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police and would submit that a sum of Rs.1,25,00,000/- has been transacted to the petitioner's account and

unless the petitioner is taken custody, it is too difficult to recover the money. 5.At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the FIR came to be registered in the year 2024 and his name was not at all find a place in the FIR and he has been issued only witness summon. Apart from that he is also aged about 74 years.

5. Considering the above submissions made by the learned counsel on both sides, this Court is of the firm view that at this length of time, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required. Hence, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions.

6. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate for Exclusive Trial of CCB Cases (Relating to cheating case in Chennai), at Egmore, Chennai, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only), with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on further conditions:

(a) If the petitioner fails to surrender before the concerned learned Magistrate within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, this order shall stand

automatically cancelled;

(b) The sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the application for surety ship (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 appear before the respondent Police on summons;

(d) On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate actions against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on anticipatory bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji v. State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560];

(e) If the petitioner thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act.

7.This Criminal Original Petition is ordered accordingly. 29-06-2026 KMI

To 1.The Metropolitan Magistrate for Exclusive Trial of CCB Cases, (Relating to cheating case in Chennai) Egmore, Chennai.

2.The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, EDF-I, Beta-II, i/c.Beta-1, Vepery, Chennai-600007.

3.The Public Prosecutor Madras High Court.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

KMI 29-06-2026