Venkatraman v. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Vembakkottai
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Date : 09.03.2026
CORAM
The HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN CRL OP(MD)No.4979 of 2026 1.Venkatraman 2.Kaleeswaran 3.Sabarieswaran 4.Vijay ... Petitioners Vs.
The State of Tamil Nadu, The Inspector of Police, Vembakkottai Police Station, Virudhunagar District (Crime No.63 of 2026) ... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition has been filed under Section 482 of BNSS 2023, to enlarge the petitioners/accused on bail in the event of their arrest in Crime No.63 of 2026 pending investigation on the fule of the respondent police.
For Petitioners : Mrs.S.Prabha For Respondent : Mr.P.Kottai chamy Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 1/6
ORDER:
The petitioners, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections9(b)(1)(a) of Indian Explosive Act, 1884 in Crime No.63 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.
2.The case of the prosecution is that on 26.02.2026 at about 01.30 p.m., the accused, along with other accused, allegedly manufactured crackers without obtaining any valid licence, behind the Sandal Fireworks Factory at Vembakottai. Therefore, the present case has been registered against the petitioner for the aforesaid alleged offences. 3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that A3 has already been granted anticipatory bail in Crl.O.P.(MD).No.4768 of 2026. The petitioners are innocent and they are not involved in the alleged offence. According to the learned counsel, Sri Sandal Fire Works is a partnership firm and the petitioner is the manufacturing partner of the said firm. Due to disputes among the partners, the present case has been registered at the instance of the other partners. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail for the petitioners. 2/6
4.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent, on instructions, submitted that the grant of anticipatory bail to A3 cannot be a ground for extending the same relief to the petitioners. He further submitted that the petitioners were engaged in manufacturing activities illegally without any valid licence. Therefore, he sought for dismissal of the petition. 5.This Court considered the rival submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent and perused the materials available on record.
6.Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the concern is a partnership firm and that there exists a dispute among the partners, and also taking into account the fact that A1 has already been arrested and released on bail, and that the petitioner was not present at the place of occurrence, and further in view of the anticipatory bail granted to A3 by this Court, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 7.Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, on condition that the petitioners shall 3/6
execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/-(Rupees Ten Thousand only) each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the Learned Judicial Magistrate No.II, Sattur, Virudhunagar District, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order made ready and on further conditions that: [a]the petitioners and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity. [b]the petitioners shall report before the respondent police as and when required for interrogation.
[c]the petitioners shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial.
[d]the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. [e]On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner is released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself 4/6
as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560].
[f]If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS.
09.03.2026 sbn To 1.Judicial Magistrate No.II, Sattur, Virudhunagar District.
2.The Inspector of Police, Vembakkottai Police Station, Virudhunagar District.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench Of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN,J sbn Crl.O.P.(MD) No.4979 of 2026 09.03.2026 6/6