Muthukumar v. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Elayirampannai
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 27.04.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. DHANABAL
1. Muthukumar
2. S. Jeeva
...Petitioners/A2 and A3
Vs State of Tamil Nadu rep. by The Inspector of Police, Elayirampannai Police Station, Virudhunagar District.
(Crime No.174 of 2025)
...Respondent/Complainant
For Petitioners: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. 1/6
ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioners/A2 and A3, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent 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, seek anticipatory 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 Rs.1,32,000/-, after which they fled from the scene of occurrence. Hence, the case 2/6
3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are innocent and they have been falsely implicated in this case and they are no way connected in the above said incident. They have not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution and the main accused in this case was granted bail by this Court. Hence, he prays to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) would submit that the accused persons received money from the defacto complainant and thereafter ran away from the place of occurrence. Investigation is pending and the offences are grave in nature. Hence , he opposes to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners.
5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. Considering the rival submissions on either side and the nature of offences charged against the petitioners, and considering the fact that the main accused in this case was arrested and released on bail by this Court and no previous case is pending against the petitioners and also 3/6
the fact that the alleged occurrence took place on 12.08.2025 and so far the respondent police have not taken steps to secure the accused, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners, subject to the following conditions:
[a] Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on anticipatory bail on condition to 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.I, Sattur, and on further conditions that:
[b] the petitioners shall report before the respondent police, daily at 10.00 a.m. until further orders. [c] the petitioners shall not commit any offences of similar nature.
[d] the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial.
[e] the petitioners shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. 4/6
[f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Judicial Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioners in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioners 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].
[g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.
(P D B J) 27.04.2026 aav To 1.The learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Sattur. 2.The Inspector of Police, Elayirampannai Police Station, Virudhunagar District.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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P. DHANABAL, J., aav
ORDER
IN CRL OP(MD) No. 8141 of 2026 Date : 27.04.2026 6/6