Saravanapandi v. The State Of Tamil Nadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 28/04/2025 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL Saravanapandi ... Petitioner/Accused No.1 Vs The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by the Inspector of Police, S.S. Colony Police Station, Madurai City, Crime No.263 of 2025.
... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr. M.Jegadeesh Pandian, 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 Crime No.263/2025 on the file of the Respondent Police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- 1/6
This Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner on 24.04.2025 under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, praying to grant an order of pre-arrest bail.
2. The petitioner / A1 apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent-police for the offences punishable under Section 303 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, r/w. Section 21(5) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, in Crime No.263 of 2025 on the file of the respondent-police.
3. The case of the prosecution is that on 17.04.2025, at about 12.00 noon when the defacto complainant viz., Village Administrative Officer along with the Thasildar had conducted an inspection nearby KFC shop, bypass road, Madurai, at that time, they found that the driver of the petitioner herein was illegally excavating and transporting 3 units of Vandal sand without any valid permit. Hence, the case.
4. Mr.M.Jegadeesh Pandian, 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 is the owner of lorry, without his knowledge the 2/6
driver has loaded the sand, hence he has been falsely implicated in this case. He however submits that the petitioner is ready to abide 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 (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent-police, submits that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner. He further submits that the investigation of the case is still pending and, thereafter, at this stage of investigation, if pre-arrest bail is granted to the petitioner, he may cause threat to the witnesses and commit the similar offence. 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 and quantity of vandal sand allegedly excavated and transported by using petitioner's vehicle, this Court is of the view that custodial interrogation 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 3/6
pending against the petitioner, and with a view to give an opportunity 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 Sessions / Special Court for Trial of MMDR Act Cases, Madurai 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.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) to the satisfaction of the the learned Sessions / Special Court for Trial of MMDR Act Cases, Madurai.
(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 Sessions / Special Court for Trial of MMDR Act Cases, Madurai, 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 weekly twice ie., on every Sunday and Friday at 10.00 am until further orders; (iv) The petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required.
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(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 prior permission of the Court.
(vii) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly cause any threat to the witness and tamper with the evidence.
(viii) The petitioner shall furnish his residential address and mobile number to the learned Sessions / Special Court for Trial of MMDR Act Cases, Madurai. (ix) On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Sessions / Special Court for Trial of MMDR Act Cases, Madurai, is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned conditions are imposed by them as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K. Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005) 13 SCC 283]. 5/6
8. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed subject to the conditions stated supra.
sd/- 28/04/2025 / TRUE COPY / /05/2025 Sub-Assistant Registrar ( C.S. I / II / III / IV ) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.
trp TO
1. The Sessions / Special Court for Trial of MMDR Act Cases, Madurai
2. The Inspector of Police, S.S. Colony Police Station, Madurai City,
3. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
ORDER
IN CRL OP(MD) No.7794 of 2025 Date :28/04/2025 VN /28.05.2025 6P/4C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 6/6