Sridevi v. State Rep By The Inspector Of Police,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 14.07.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN Crl.O.P.No.19822 of 2025
1. Sridevi
2. Parveen Babu ... Petitioners Vs.
State Rep. By The Inspector of Police, Shevapet Police Station, Villupuram.
Crime No. 287 of 2025.
... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.287 of 2025 pending investigation on the file of the respondent. For Petitioner :
Mr.M.Soundar Vijay Arul Ram For Respondent :
Mr.R.Vinothraja Government Advocate (Crl.Side)
O R D E R
The petitioners were arrested on 20.06.2025, for the offence punishable under Sections 81 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in connection with Crime No. 287 of 2025, registered on the file of the 1/5
respondent, seeks bail.
2. The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant, one A.S. Raja, has been working in KRV Transport for the past 20 years and his wife, Selvarani, is employed as a Nurse at the Government Hospital in Salem. On 20.06.2025 at around 7.00 a.m., the defacto complainant dropped his wife in front of the Super Speciality Hospital gate on his two-wheeler. The complainant had taken a loan from Sushmika Finance, which is located in the same locality, and one Mr. Mohanraj, an employee of the said finance company, was present at the hospital entrance at the time. It is alleged that Mohanraj approached the complainant and his wife and inquired whether they were looking for an infant, to which the complainant replied in the negative. Mohanraj then allegedly stated that if they or anyone else were interested, they could refer people to him as he could arrange infants at a lower price. Shocked by this statement and suspecting illegal trafficking of infants, the defacto complainant lodged a complaint, leading to the registration of the present case.
3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the 2/5
petitioners are an innocent person and they have been falsely implicated in this case. It is further submitted that there is no material evidence connecting the petitioners to any offence involving trafficking or illegal sale of infants. The petitioners are a law-abiding citizen and is ready to cooperate with the investigation. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that the investigation is still at a preliminary stage and the allegations made by the defacto complainant are serious in nature. The involvement of the petitioners in a possible infant trafficking network is under investigation and custodial interrogation is essential to unearth the truth and identify other persons who may be involved. If the petitioners are released on bail at this juncture, there is every possibility of tampering with witnesses or obstructing the investigation.
5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. Upon consideration of the gravity of the allegations, the nature of the 3/5
offence and the stage of investigation, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage.
7. Accordingly, the Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 14.07.2025 nsl To
1. The Inspector of Police, Shevapet Police Station, Villupuram
2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
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