Abdul Shukkoor v. State Rep. By. Forest Range Officer,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 23-09-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR CRL OP NO. 26079 of 2025 Abdul Shukkoor Petitioner Vs The State rep. by The Forest Range Officer South Range Ootacamund The Nilgiris District WLOR No. 1 of 2025.

Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest pending investigation in WLOR.No. 1 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police.

For Petitioner :

For Interverner : Mr.S.A.Syed Haroon For Respondent : Mr.S.Udayakumar 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 2, 9, 39 r/w Section 51 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 in WLOR No. 1 of 2025 on the file of 1/6

the respondent Police, seeks anticipatory bail. 2.The allegation against the petitioner is that the Forest Officials received a complaint from the public on 03.05.2025 and they found that a Gaur/Wild OX was shot dead by the petitioner and other co-accused persons. Hence the respondent police registered a case against the petitioner and other co-accused persons.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He submits that he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He also submits that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and ready to furnish sufficient solvent sureties for his release. Hence, he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal side) for the respondent police, reiterated the prosecution case and submits that A1 and A2 had already arrested in this case and a part of the meat has been supplied to the petitioner herein. He further submits that the co-accused had already been arrested in this regard. However, he opposed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

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5. Heard the learned counsels and perused the materials available on record.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the submissions made by learned counsels on either side and considering the fact that the co-accused had already arrested, and released on bail and the petitioner is not having any bad antecedents so far a property involved in their case also recovered, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner with certain conditions. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Udhagamandalam, 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 condition that:

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

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[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 the identity proofs to ensure their identity;

[c] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police daily at 10.30 a.m for a period of three weeks and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation;

[d] On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned 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)13 SCC 283];

e] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S. 24.09.2025 MSM 4/6

K.RAJASEKAR , J.

MSM To 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Udhagamandalam, 2.The Forest Range Officer South Range, Ootacamund The Nilgiris District WLOR No. 1 of 2025.

3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

Crl.O.P.No. 26079 of 2025 23.09.2025 5/6