R.L.Prince v. The State Of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 07/03/2025 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL R.L.Prince ... Petitioner/Accused-rank not known Vs The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police, Valliyoor Police Station, Tirunelveli District.

Cr. No.161 of 2025. ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.K.Sudalaiyandi For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Manoj, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS 1/7

PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.161 of 2025 on the file of the respondentPolice. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner on 05.03.2025 under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 praying to grant an order of pre-arrest bail.

2. The petitioner/Accused rank not known apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent-Police for the offences punishable under Section 303(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Section 21(4) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, in Crime No.161 of 2025, on the file of the respondent-police.

3. The case of the prosecution is that on 27.02.2025, at about 3.00 a.m., when the defacto complainant/Zonal Deputy Tahsildar, Radhapuram, along with the police, was on surveillance on Valliyoor-Radhapuram Main Road, they found that stones were illegally transported by one Sunil/A1 in a lorry bearing registration 2/7

No.TN-75-BA-5781. After enquiry, the respondent-police arrested and remanded the said Sunil/A1, and later, based on the confession of A1, the petitioner has been arrayed as Accused No.2. Hence, this case.

4. Mr.K.Sudalaiyandi, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He further submits that the petitioner is in no way connected in this case. He however submits that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prays for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner.

5. Per contra, Mr.S.S.Manoj, the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent-Police, submits that the petitioner was illegally mining stones in a private quarry forging the expired trip sheet and that based on the confession of the other accused person/A1, the petitioner has been arrayed as A2. He further submits that the petitioner has no previous case. He further submits that if pre-arrest bail is granted to the petitioner, he may commit similar type of offence. Hence, he prays to dismiss this Criminal Original Petition. 3/7

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

7. Only based on the confession of the other accused person/A1, the petitioner has been arrayed as A2. The petitioner has no previous case. The petitioner has permanent residence and deep roots in the society. Hence, there is less possibility of absconding. Considering the same, and also considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the nature of the offence allegedly committed by 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 pre-arrest bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

(i) The petitioner shall be released on bail in the event of his arrest or in the event of his surrender before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor, 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 learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor; (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']. The learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor shall obtain a copy of any 4/7

one of identity proofs to ensure their identity; (iii) The petitioner shall furnish his residential address and mobile number to the learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor;

(iv) The petitioner shall appear and sign before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor, on all working days at 10.00 a.m., until further orders; (v) The petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required;

(vi) 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; (vii) The petitioner shall not leave India without previous permission of the Court;

(viii) The petitioner shall not, directly or indirectly, cause any threat to the defacto-complainant and witnesses and shall not tamper the evidence; and (ix) On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor, 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]. 5/7

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

sd/- 07/03/2025 / TRUE COPY / /03/2025 Sub-Assistant Registrar (C.S.) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

APD TO

1. The Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor.

2. Do-Through The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tirunelveli District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Valliyoor Police Station, Tirunelveli District.

4. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

+1 CC to M/s.K.SUDALAIYANDI, Advocate ( SR-2568[I] dated 10/03/2025 ) ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.4308 of 2025 Date : 07/03/2025 6/7

VN (26/03/2025) 7 P / 6C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17.07.2023. 7/7