Ramesh Kumar v. The State Represented By The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR Ramesh Kumar S/o.Veerasamy, No.145. North Street, Therkupoigainallur Post, Nagapattinam District.

..Petitioner Vs

1. The State Represented by the Inspector of Police Velankanni Police station, Nagapattinam District (Crime No.288 of 2022)

2. Maheswaran@Appanu S/o.Pannerselvam, No.189, Paravai, Therkupolgainallur, Nagappattinam District

3. Greatan@Rosary Greatn S/o. Ganesan, Mariyamman Kovil Street, South Poigainallur, Nagapattattinam District

4. Akash S/o.Ganesan, Mariyamman Kovil Street, South Poigainallur, Nagapattattinam District

5. Arjun@arj S/o. Ashokan 168/210, BV Colony,

3rd Street, Vyasarpadi, Chennai -600039

6. Pannerselvam@Anto S/o.Balaraman 56, Jothi Ammal Nagar, 2nd Street, Part-4, Shenoy Nagar, TP Chathiram, Chennai - 600030

7. Kasi@Villan Kasi S/o.Munusamy, No.430, 7th Street, Shastri Nagar, Vyasarpadi, Chennai -600039.

8. Sakthivel@Netta Sakathi S/o. Ramesh, 83,2nd Street, B.V. Colony, Vyasarpadi, Chennai -600039.

9. Suseendhar @Jilla Susi No.308A, 5th Street, Shastri Nagar, Vyasarpadi, Chennai -600039.

10.Mathiyalagan S/o. Pannerselvam, No.1/189, Main Road, Paravai, South Poigainallur, Nagaipattinam District.

11.Vijay S/o. Nagaraj, South Street, South Poigainallur, Nagaipattinam District.

12.Subramanian @Suppu S/o. Ramalingam, North Street, South Poigainallur, Nagaipattinam District.

13.Rameshkumar@Settu Ramesh S/o. Neelakandan, Nadu Theru, South Poigainallur, Nagaipattinam District.

14.Muruganandham S/o.Pakkirisamy, South Poigainallur, Nagaipattinam District.

15.Arularasan@Kulal S/o.Rethinasamy, Main Road, Paravai, Nagappattinam District 16.Gowtham S/o. Baluk, 1/92, Mariyamman Kovil Theru, South Poigainallur, Nagaipattinam District.

17.Periyanayagam Joshwa S/o.Sagayaraj, 92, Tsunamikudiirruppu, Pookkara Street, Velankanni 18.Vignesh@Vicky S/o. Thavasimuthu, No.6, Singaravelar Nagar, Seruthur.

..Respondents

To issue appropriate directions to the learned district and sessions judge, Nagapattinam to expedite the trial proceedings in S.C.No.6 of 2023 and dispose of the same in accordance with law within a time frame. For Petitioner :

Ms.Manne Ramya For Respondents :

Mr.A.Amarnath, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for R1 Order The petitioner/defacto complainant, on whose complaint the case in Crime No.288 of 2022 has been registered for offences under Sections 147, 148, 449, 307 & 302 of IPC, has filed this petition seeking a direction to the trial court to expedite the trial in S.C.No.6 of 2023.

2. The contention of the petitioner is that, after completion of investigation, a charge sheet has been filed in S.C.No.6 of 2023. There are totally 19 accused in this case. So far, 40 witnesses have been examined, and 34 witnesses remain to be examined at this stage. It is submitted that the trial would require at least another year for completion. Further in the meanwhile, the accused are allegedly issuing life threats to the defacto complainant and his family members. Hence, the present petition has been filed seeking speedy disposal of the case.

3. Learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) submits that, in this case 40 witnesses have been examined and only 9 witnesses remain. Of the said nine witnesses, some pertain to CCTV recordings, Forensic Experts and the Investigating Officer. It is further submitted that all these witnesses will be examined within a stipulated period. He further submitted that the trial court is adopting all measures, including examination of the witnesses through video conferencing and permitting the counsel for the accused to appear and conduct cross-examination through video conferencing. The accused have also been cross-examined. So far, all witnesses have been examined without any impediment. In any event, the trial can be completed within a period of six months, considering that there are 19 accused in this case.

4. This court considered the submissions made on either side and perused the materials.

5. It is seen that only 9 witnesses remain to be examined and of the nine witnesses, two are formal witnesses and the others are officials. In view of the same, this court finds that the trial court is proceeding on the right direction though with some delay. Considering that there are 19 accused, this delay cannot be magnified as a created delay.

6. In the view of the above, this court directs the trial court to conclude the trial preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order. This six months' time is only an outer limit. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of. 17-06-2026 nl Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order

To

1. The Inspector of Police Velankanni Police station, Nagapattinam District

2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

M.NIRMAL KUMAR J.

nl 17-06-2026