Srinath Arumugam v. The State Rep. By The Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 05.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN Crl.R.C .No.2893 of 2025 Srinath Arumugam Aged about 40 years S/o.Mr.Arumugam, Flat No.F3, I Floor, Sunil Shrivari Apartment, No.13, Ranganathan Street, Ranganathan Street, Chennai - 42.

...Petitioner

Vs.

State Rep by, The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Tambaram, Chengalpattu District, Crime No.7 of 2025

...Respondent

Prayer: Criminal Revision case filed under Section 438 r/w Section 442 of BNSS, to call for the records and to set aside the impugned order passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Tambaram in Crl.M.P.No.2121 of 2025 dated 18.06.2025 and direct the respondent police to return the GOOGLE PIXEL A(Black colour) Mobile Phone and DELL NEW ALIENWARE (Light Sky Blue Colour) Laptop to the petitioner, seized in connection with Crime No.7 of 2025, on the file of the respondent police pending disposal of the case.

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For Petitioner : Mr.S.Joel For Respondent : Mr.R.Vinothraja, Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

ORDER

The petitioner challenges the dismissal of the petitioner's application for return of his mobile phone and laptop, which was seized during the course of investigation in Crime No.7 of 2025 registered for the offences under Section 316(2), 318(4) and 61(2) of BNS Act, 2023, in which the petitioner is an accused.

2.The petitioner is said to have committed the aforesaid offences by using the laptop and the mobile phone. The petitioner sought for return of the said gadgets and the same was dismissed by the Magistrate on 23.09.2025 in Crl.M.P.No.2121 of 2025.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the seizure was made in the month of April, 2025; that the gadgets are still lying idle and therefore, the petitioner is entitled to the interim custody of the said gadgets.

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4.Per contra, the learned Government Advocate(Crl. Side) would submit since the offence was committed by using the two gadgets, they have been sent to the forensic science laboratory for analysis and the report is still awaited.

5.In view of the above statement, this Court is of the view that the gadgets cannot be returned as both the mobile phone and the laptop are now in the custody of the forensic science laboratory. The respondent shall ensure that the lab report is obtained within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of this order. The petitioner may renew his application before the learned Magistrate once the report is obtained and the said application may be considered by the learned Magistrate on its own merits. 6.With the above observations, the Revision is dismissed. 05.01.2026 Tsg Index : Yes/No Speaking order : Yes/No 3/4

SUNDER MOHAN.J.

, Tsg To 1.The Judicial Magistrate No.1, Tambaram 2.The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Tambaram, Chengalpattu District.

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