Muthukalai v. The State Of Tamilnadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 09/04/2025 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL Muthukalai, ... Petitioner/Sole Accused Vs The State of Tamilnadu, Rep By,The Inspector of Police, A.Mukkulam Police Station, Virudhunagar District, Cr.No.26/2025..
... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.B.Anandan, Advocate.
For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Manoj, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Cr.No.26 of 2025 on the file of the respondent-police. 1/7
ORDER : The Court made the following order :- This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner on 07.04.2025 under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, praying to grant an order of pre-arrest bail.
2. The petitioner/Sole Accused apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent-Police for the offences punishable under Section 303 (2) of BNS, 2023 r/w Section 21(1) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 in Crime No.26 of 2025 on the file of the respondent-Police.
3. The case of the prosecution is that on 01.04.2025 at about 10.30 p.m., based on a secret information from the defacto complainant-Village Administrative Officer, Kovilangulam Group Village, the respondent-Police along with his police team went to the place of occurrence ie., Survey No.9, Kovilangulam, and intercepted the tractor bearing Registration No.TN 67 BQ 0347, one Splender Bike bearing Registration No.TN 58 BX 0433 and one Honda Active bearing Registration No.TN BF 7402, while driver fled from the spot and they discovered that the above said vehicles have transported 1⁄4 unit of 'river sand' from the without any valid 2/7
license or permission. Thereafter, the respondent-Police seized the sand along with the alleged vehicle. Hence, the case.
4. Mr.B.Anandan, 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. He, however, submits that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. He therefore prays for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner.
5. Per contra, Mr.S.S.Manoj, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent-police, submits that the petitioner has transported 1⁄4 unit of river sand by using tractor bearing Registration No.TN 67 BQ 0347, without any valid license or permission. Further, the respondent-Police also seized one Splender Bike bearing Registration No.TN 58 BX 0433 and one Honda Active bearing Registration No.TN BF 7402. He further submits that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner. Accordingly, he prays to dismiss this Criminal Original Petition.
6. Heard on both sides. This Court has perused the records. 3/7
7.Considering that the allegedly illegally transported river sand through the above said vehicles have already been seized by the respondent police, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner not necessary. Further, 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 quantity of river sand allegedly transported by the petitioner, and with a view to give one more 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 pre-arrest bail in the event of his arrest or in the event of his surrender before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Thiruchuli, Virudhunagar District, within a period of 15 days from date on which the order copy is made ready, on executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) along with two sureties, each for a like sum of Rs.
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(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, Thiruchuli, Virudhunagar District, shall obtain a copy of any one of identity proofs to ensure their identity; (iii) The petitioner shall appear and sign before the respondent-Police daily at 10.30 a.m., 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 furnish his residential address and mobile number to the learned Judicial Magistrate, Thiruchuli, Virudhunagar District,; (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, Thiruchuli, Virudhunagar District, or Trial Court, as the case may be, is 5/7
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].
8. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed subject to the conditions stated supra.
sd/- 09/04/2025 / TRUE COPY / /05/2025 Sub-Assistant Registrar ( C.S. I / II / III / IV ) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.
VSG TO 1.THE LEARNED JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, THIRUCHULI, VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT.
2. DO THROUGH THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT @ SRIVILLIPUTHUR.
3.THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, A.MUKKULAM POLICE STATION, VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT.
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4.THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI.
+1 CC to M/s.B.ANANDAN, Advocate ( SR-4206[I] dated 15/04/2025 )
ORDER
IN CRL OP(MD) No.6646 of 2025 Date :09/04/2025 VN/29.05.2025 7P/6C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 7/7