Michael Reegan v. State Rep.By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 20.09.2024
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE P.DHANABAL Michael Reegan
...Petitioner/Accused
Vs.
The State Represented by, The Inspector of Police, A.W.P.S Kangayam Tiruppur District.
( Crime No.18 of 2024)
...Respondent/Complainant
PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of the BNS, 2023 praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.18 of 2024, on the file of respondent police.
For Petitioner : Mr.J.Franklin For Respondent : Mr.S.Vinoth Kumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side) *****
O R D E R
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The petitioner/accused, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 01.07.2024 for the offences under Sections 5(l) r/w 6, 7 r/w 8 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and under Section 9 of the Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Sections 366 and 506(i) of the IPC in Crime No.18 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.
2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner/A2 and other accused had committed penetrative sexual assault with the victim girl. Hence, the case.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner/A2 submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person, he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that the petitioner has been in custody since 01.07.2024; that the petitioner is a law-abiding citizen; and that the petitioner is ready to furnish substantial sureties for his due release on bail. Hence, he prays for the grant of bail to the petitioner. 2/6
4. Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the respondent police submitted that there are three accused in this case; that the petitioner is arrayed as A2; and that the petitioner/A2 and other accused had committed penetrative sexual assault with the victim girl. He also submitted that there are no previous cases pending against the petitioner; that the investigation was completed and the final report was also filed. However, he strongly opposed granting bail to the petitioner.
5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. Considering the representation made by both sides, the nature of offences, that the investigation was completed and the charge sheet was also filed, that there are no previous cases pending against the petitioner and also taking into consideration the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions:
7. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on 3/6
his executing 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 Sessions Judge, Mahalir Neethimandram, (FTMC) Tiruppur, and on further conditions that:
[a] the petitioner shall report before the Mahalir Neethimandram, (FTMC) Tiruppur, on every working day at 10.30 a.m., for a period of thirty (30) days and thereafter, report before the respondent police as and when required for the interrogation;
[b] the petitioner shall attend in accordance with the conditions of the bond;
[c] the petitioner shall not commit any offences of similar to the offence of which he is accused, or suspected, or of the commission of which he is suspected; [d] the petitioner shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence;
[e] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;
[f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Judicial Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take 4/6
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]; and [g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.
20.09.2024 dk To 1.The Mahalir Neethimandram, (FTMC) Tiruppur.
2.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Coimbatore.
3.The Inspector of Police, A.W.P.S Kangayam, Tiruppur District.
4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.
P.DHANABAL, J.
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