R.Santhosh v. The Forest Range Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 05.11.2025 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR Crl.O.P.No. 30134 of 2025 R.Santhosh ... Petitioner Vs.

The Forest Range Officer Servarayan South Range Salem Forest Division Salem-7.

... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS Act, 2023, praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in WLOR.No. 28 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police.

For Petitioner : Mr.Sathish Karthikeyan For Respondent : Mr.S.Udayakumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

ORDER

The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 2, 9, 39, 49A, 49B, 50, and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended upto 2022), in WLOR.No. 28 of 2025 on the file of the respondent Police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2. The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner joined hands with two other accused and they hunted a wild boar, and the petitioner also shared the meat with two other accused. Based on the information, the forest officials seized the meat and attempted to sell it. Hence the case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case and he was in possession of small quantity of meat and the same was recovered by the forest officials and the petitioner is also ready to co-operate with the investigation. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

4.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that investigation is pending and the petitioner is also having one previous case similar in nature. He opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

5. Considering the nature of allegations; the petitioner is having one previous case similar in nature and if anticipatory bail is granted to the petitioner, he would indulge similar in nature, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

6. Accordingly, the Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 05.11.2025 MSM To

1. The Forest Range Officer Servarayan South Range Salem Forest Division Salem-7.

2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

K.RAJASEKAR, J.

MSM CRL OP No. 30134 of 2025 05.11.2025