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Madras High CourtCRL OP(MD)/3874/2025allowed

Muthupandi @ Muthupandian v. The State Of Tamilnadu

2025-02-28Honourable Mr.Justice R.Sakthivel6 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 28/02/2025 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL Muthupandi @ Muthupandian ... Petitioner/Accused No.2 Vs The State of Tamilnadu, Rep. by the Inspector of Police, Vembakkottai Police Station, Virudhunagar District.

Crime No. 55/2025.

... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner :

Ms. S.Prabha Advocate.

For Respondent :

Mr.K.Sanjai Gandhi, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :-For Anticipatory bail in Crime No. 55 of 2025 on the file of the Respondent-Police.

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner on 26.02.2025 under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, praying 1/6

to grant an order of pre-arrest bail.

2. The petitioner / accused No.2 apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent-Police for the offence punishable under Sections 9(B) (1)(a) of the Indian Explosives Act, 1884, in Crime No.55 of 2025 on the file of the respondent-police.

3. The case of the prosecution is that on 13.02.2025 at about 9.45 a.m., when the respondent - Police was conducting regular vehicle check-up, they found that the petitioner / A1 was in illegal possession of explosives, without any licence, in a car bearing Regn.No. No.TN 58 T 0774. On seeing the Police, the petitioner fled from the place. A1 was arrested and the vehicle was seized. Hence, the case.

4. Ms.S.Prabha, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution, and he has been falsely implicated in this case. She however submits that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. She therefore prays for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner.

5. Per contra, Mr.K.Sanjai Gandhi, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent-police, submits that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner and the investigation of the case is still pending and therefore, at this stage, if pre-arrest bail is granted to the petitioner, he may abscond and cause threat to the witnesses and danger to the general public. 2/6

Accordingly, he prays to dismiss this Criminal Original Petition.

6. Heard on both sides. This Court has perused the records.

7. In view of the offence alleged against the petitioner, this Court is of the view that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not necessary in this case. The petitioner has permanent residence and deep roots in the society and therefore, there is less possibility for absconding. Considering the same, and also considering the facts and circumstances of the case and taking note of the fact that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner and with a view to give an opportunity to the petitioner to reform himself, this Court is inclined to grant an order of prearrest bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions. (i) The petitioner shall be released on pre-arrest bail in the event of his arrest or in the event of his surrender before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.

II, Sattur, Virudhunagar District, within a period of 15 days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, on executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) along with two sureties each for a like sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) to the satisfaction of the said Magistrate. (ii) The sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the Application for Suretyship [Judicial Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019'].

identity proofs to ensure their identity.

(iii) The petitioner shall appear and sign before the respondent-police daily at 10.00 am until further orders;

(iv) The petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required.

(v) 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. (vi) The petitioner shall not leave India without the previous permission of the Court.

(vii) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly cause any threat to the defacto complainant and tamper with the evidence. (viii) The petitioner shall furnish his residential address and mobile number to the concerned Magistrate.

(ix) On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Judicial Magistrate or Trial Court, as the case may be, is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned conditions are imposed by him as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K. Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005) 13 SCC 283].

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8. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed subject to the conditions stated supra.

sd/- 28/02/2025 / TRUE COPY / /03/2025 Sub-Assistant Registrar ( C.S. I / II / III / IV ) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

TRP TO 1 THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE NO.II, SATTUR, VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT.

2 DO-THROUGH :

THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, VIRUTHUNAGAR DISTRICT AT SRIVILLIPUTHUR.

3 THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, VEMBAKKOTTAI POLICE STATION, VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT.

4 THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI.

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ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.3874 of 2025 Date :28/02/2025 MK/SKN/SAR /13.03.2025 6P/5C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 6/6