Naveen Kumar v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 03.06.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R. POORNIMA Naveen Kumar ... Petitioner -vs1.The Superintendent of Police Sivagangai District 2.The Inspector of Police Pallathur Police Station Sivagangai District 3.Venugopal 4.Praveen ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of habeas corpus directing the respondents 1 and 2 herein to produce the person or body of my friend namely Pragathi aged about 27 years before this Court and set her at liberty.

For Petitioner :

Mr.S.Srikanth For Respondents :

Mr.B.Nambiselvam No.1 and 2 Additional Public Prosecutor No.4 : Mr.R.Gowri Shankar

O R D E R

[Order of the Court was made by A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.] The petitioner has filed this habeas corpus petition seeking a direction to the respondents 1 and 2 herein to produce the person or body of his friend namely Pragathi aged about 27 years before this Court and set her at liberty.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that he is a medical professional practicing medicine in a private hospital at Udumalpet and that he was in love with the alleged detenue Pragati who is aged about 27 years who is also a medical professional. The further case of the petitioner is that the alleged detenue contacted him through whatsapp and confided that her parents coming to know of the love affair has compelled and coerced her to marry one Praveen Kumar and had kept her in illegal detention, hence the petitioner has filed this habeas corpus petition.

3. When the matter is taken up in the morning Mr.R.Gowri Sankar, learned counsel undertook to file vakalath on behalf of the fourth respondent and also undertook to produce the alleged victim before this Court at 2.15 p.m., and submitted that the alleged detenue is not kept in illegal detention and that she had voluntarily married the fourth respondent and their

marriage had been registered at the office of the SRO, Madurai. Pursuant to the same, the alleged victim was produced before us. We enquired the said victim. She submitted that she is aged about 27 years and that she is a medical professional and she stated that she was coerced by her parents emotionally and mentally and she was compelled to marry Praveen Kumar. She also submitted that she was forced to marry and that she does not want to live with him and that she expressed has desire to go along with the petitioner/Naveen Kumar.

4. Finding that the alleged detenue is aged about 27 years and is free to take her own decision no further adjudication is required in this habeas corpus petition and the same is, therefore, closed. Further the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karaikudi Sub Division is directed to afford protection to the petitioner and the victim/Pragati and also shall ensure their safety.

[A.D.J.C., J.] [R.P., J.] 03.06.2025 NCC :

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To:

1.The Superintendent of Police Sivagangai District 2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police Karaikudi Sub- Division 3.The Inspector of Police Pallathur Police Station Sivagangai District 4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.

AND R.POORNIMA, J.

aav 03.06.2025