Chozan v. The State Represented By The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 10-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA and Crl.M.P.No.2048 of 2026

1. Chozan (Wrongly mentioned as Cholan instead of Chozan in F.I.R)

2. Ganesan A

3. Venkatesan

4. Raja G

5. J.Sammandhan (Wrongly mentioned as Sambathan instead of Smmandhan in F.I.R)

6. Ravi R

7. Elumalai K (Wrongly mentioned as Elumalai instead of Elumalai in F.I.R.)

8. V.Radha

9. Sundravadivel (Wrongly mentioned as Sundara Vadivelan instead of Sundravadivel in F.I.R.) 10.Gokul 11.Banupriya Murugan (Wrongly mentioned as Banupriya instead of Banupriya Murugan, in FIR)

12.Gopalakrishnan (Wrongly mentioned as Gobalakrishnan instead of Gopalakrishnan, in F.I.R.) 13.Venkatesan 14.Mani 15.Dhinakaran 16.Balaji P 17.Raman 18.Murugan 19.Aakash Elumalai (Wrongly mentioned as Akash instead of Aakash in F.I.R.) 20.Parimala 21.Mala Kumar 22.Shoba 23.Krishnamoorthy (Wrongly mentioned as Iyyappan instead of Krishnamoorthy in F.I.R.) 24.Renuka K (Wrongly mentioned as Renuga instead of Renuka in F.I.R.) 25.Devi R 26.Kathiravan 27.Kumar A 28.Thirumoorthy S 29.R.Shanmugam ..Petitioners Vs

1. The State represented by The Inspector of Police, Vandavasi North Police Station, Tiruvannamalai District, in Crime No.256 of 2023

2. Govindarajalu ..Respondents

PRAYER: Criminal Original petition is filed under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita/Section 482 Cr.P.C, to call for the entire records pertaining to the impugned FIR in Crime No.256 of 2023 on the file of the respondent No.1 police station and quash as against the petitioners are concerned.

For Petitioners :

Mr.Perumal (VC) for Ms.Sudha Ramalingam For Respondents :

Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for R1

ORDER

The present Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking to quash the FIR in Crime No.256 of 2023 on the file of the first respondent Police. 2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 02.11.2023, the petitioners along with others were conducting a demonstration against the acquisition of agricultural land for the SIPCOT Industry project in Vandavasi to Kancheepuram Melma Junction. The said demonstration was carried out without obtaining any permission, thereby causing traffic. On account of the same, the aforesaid case in Crime No.256 of 2023 was registered by the respondent Police for the offences under Sections 143, 294(b), 341, 353, 283, 290 and 109 of IPC, which is now sought to be quashed.

3.

The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the facts of the instant case are similar to the facts of the cases in Jeevanandham and others vs. The Inspector of Police, Velayuthampalayam Police Station, Karur District reported in (2018 2 LW (Crl) 606) and Sri Raja vs Inspector of Police, Sivakasi Town Police Station Virudhunagar District and others (Crl.O.P No.7922 of 2019, decided on 30.08.2019), in which the proceedings were quashed. Hence, he prayed to quash Crime No.256 of 2023. 4.

The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the first respondent Police submitted that investigation with respect to Crime No.256 of 2023 has been completed, final report has been filed and the case has been taken in STC No.4 of 2024 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Vandavasi. He also endorsed the aforesaid submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners.

5.

Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

6.

In view of the above, this Court is of the opinion that the above said decisions would apply on all fours to the present case and that no useful purpose will be served by keeping the proceedings pending and is liable to be

quashed. Further, though the petition has been filed by the petitioners alone, no useful purpose would be served by allowing the proceedings to continue against the remaining accused, who are all similarly placed, and it is an abuse of process of law.

7.

Accordingly, the Criminal Original Petition stands allowed and and the proceedings pursuant to the First Information Report in Crime No.256 of 2023, on the file of the first respondent Police and and the case in STC No 4 of 2024 on the file of Judicial Magistrate Court, Vandavasi, are hereby quashed in toto. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 10-02-2026 MRN To 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Vandavasi

2. The Inspector of Police Cheyyar Police Station, Tiruvannamalai District, in Crime No. 256 of 2023 3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.

MRN 10-02-2026