S.Mariappan v. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Elayirampannai

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 15.04.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL S.Mariappan ...Petitioner/Accused No.1 Vs State of Tamil Nadu rep. by The Inspector of Police, Elayirampannai Police Station, Virudhunagar District.

(Crime No.174 of 2025) ...Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner:Mr.P.Edin Brough For Respondent:Mr.B.Nambi Selvan Additional Public Prosecutor PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Bail in Cr.No. 174 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police.

1/8

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner/Accused No.1, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 13.03.2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of BNS, 2023, in Crime No.174 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that as per the FIR, the defacto complainant namely, Nirmala Devi, is studying 12th standard at KRTA Government Higher Secondary School, Thayiulpatti and on 12.08.2025, at about 05.45 p.m., when she was washing clothes in front of her house, at that time, the petitioner and other accused came on the street wearing yellow shirts and towels, posing as priests and going from house to house collecting offerings. They gave vibhuti and asked her to bring money from her house. Believing their words and on being advised with a mantra, she went inside her house and brought a sum of 2/8

Rs.1,32,000/-, after which they fled from the scene of occurrence. Hence, the case 3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case. The petitioner has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 13.03.2026. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner. 4.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent would submit that offences are grave in nature, however, the investigation has been completed and the petitioner has one previous case, which is similar in nature. Hence, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

5. This Court heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

3/8

6. Considering the rival submissions made by the learned counsel on either side, nature of the allegations levelled as against the petitioner and considering the facts that even as per the prosecution, the defacto complainant is studying 12th standard and school going student and how she handled such a huge amount of money without the knowledge of her family members and though the the petitioner has one previous case, he was released on bail and also considering the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner from 13.03.2026, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

[a] Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on condition to execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) 4/8

with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Sattur, and on further conditions that:

[b] the petitioner shall report before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Sattur, on all working days daily at 10.30 a.m.,for a period of 30 days and thereafter as and when required for hearing.

[c] the petitioner shall not commit any offence similar to the offence of which he/she is accused, or suspected, or of the commission of which he/she is suspected;

[d] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

5/8

[e] 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 her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence;

[f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Judicial 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 released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560].

6/8

[g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section BNS.

(P D B J) 15.04.2026 vsg To 1.The learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Sattur. 2.The Inspector of Police, Elayirampannai Police Station, Virudhunagar District.

3.The Officer-in-Charge, Sub Jail, Srivilliputhur.

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

7/8

P. DHANABAL, J., vsg

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No. 6439 of 2026 Date : 15.04.2026 8/8