S.Lakshmi v. State Represented By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 17.07.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR
1. S.Lakshmi
2. Sungula
3. B.Tamilselvi
4. S.Vijaya Prakash ... Petitioners Vs.
State Represented by The Sub-Inspector of Police, K.V.Kuppam Police Station, Vellore District.
Crime No.107 of 2025 ... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in connection with Crime No. 107 of 2025 on the file of respondent Police.
For Petitioner :
Mr.S.K.Mageshwaran For Respondent :
Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam Government Advocate (Criminal Side)
O R D E R
The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 191(2), 296(b), 115(2), 140(3) 1/5
and 351(2) of BNS and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002 in Crime No.107 of 2025, on the file of the respondent Police, seeks anticipatory bail.
2. The case of the prosecution is that on 15.06.2025 at about 12:30 hours, the defacto complainant, Tmt. SelvaPriya, W/o Gnanavel, a resident of No.1/103, NagalEri Street, Melmayil Village, lodged a complaint before the K.V. Kuppam Police Station. In her complaint, she stated that while she was at home, a group of accused persons came to her residence and enquired about her husband's whereabouts. Upon informing them that her husband had left around 07:30 AM, the accused persons became enraged and began assaulting the complainant. They allegedly dragged her outside, tied her to a tree, and beat her. When her son intervened to protect her, he was also allegedly physically assaulted. Thereafter, the accused persons forcibly took her to Kaliyamman Temple in Kangukuppam, where she was again assaulted with wooden sticks, verbally abused with filthy language, and threatened with dire consequences.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. It is contended that the 2/5
entire complaint is a fabricated version of a prior civil dispute. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the investigation and abide by any stringent conditions imposed by the Court. Hence, he prayed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that the allegations are serious in nature, involving public humiliation, physical violence and criminal intimidation of a woman and her child. It is submitted that custodial interrogation is required to thoroughly investigate the sequence of events, identify all accused involved and collect further evidence. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
5. On a perusal of the FIR and the submissions made by both sides, this Court is of the view that the allegations levelled against the petitioner are grave and shocking particularly involving physical assault of a woman, public humiliation and criminal intimidation. The materials on record reveal that the incident allegedly occurred in broad daylight and involved multiple accused. 3/5
6. Considering the seriousness of the offence, and custodial interrogation is required, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner at this stage.
7. In view of the nature and gravity of the allegations and the stage of investigation, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed 17.07.2025 nsl To
1. The Sub-Inspector of Police, K.V.Kuppam Police Station, Vellore District.
2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.
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M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.
nsl 17.07.2025 5/5