Saravanan Alias Saravanakumar v. The State Of Tamilnadu Rep.By

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 07.05.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY CRL OP(MD)No.9024 of 2026 1.Saravanan @ Saravanakumar 2.Chinnaiah 3.Ponnaiah 4.Anbarasan @ Anbarasu 5.Somasundaram 6.Muthaiah 7.Sekkuraman 8.Naveenraj 9.Adaikappa Ramu 10.Sevugan 11.Raman 12.Adaikkappan 13.Selvaraj 14.Ragul @ Radhakrishnan 15.Adaikkappan 16.Ilancheliyan 17.Sevugan 18.Sangeetha 19.Senthilvel 20.Muthu Samiyandi 21.Indhu 22.Anbuselvam 23.Suganya 24.Lenin

25.Andiyappan 26.Nacchammai @ Natchal 27.Nagarajan 28.Yuvaraj 29.Subbiah 30.Vadivel 31.Vinothkumar ... Petitioners/ A1 to A25, A27 to A30, A32 & A34 Vs The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its The Inspector of Police, Nerukuppai Police Station, Sivagangai District.

(Crime No.52 / 2026) ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioners : Mr.Hariharan For Respondent : Mr.E.Antony Sahaya Prabahar Additional Public Prosecutor PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.52 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police.

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioners/A1 to A25, A27 to A30 and A34, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 191(2), 191(3), 126(2), 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), and 351(3) of BNS, 2023, in Crime No.52 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seek anticipatory bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 23.04.2026, a dispute arose between two groups belonging to Nerkuppai Keelatheru Village in connection with the conduct of the Poi Solla Mei Ayyanaar Kovil Kumbabishekam Festival. On the same day, at about 12.45 p.m., both groups engaged in a physical altercation, during which they hurled stones and wielded sticks against each other. Hence, the present case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are innocent persons and they have not committed any offences as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that the petitioners are ready and willing to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail to the petitioners.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police submitted that it is a case, case in counter. He further submitted that due to a temple dispute, the accused persons assaulted the de-facto complainant and others, threatened them. As a result, 21 persons were injured, including one police

officer. He also submitted that the injured persons have been discharged from the hospital. However, he opposed the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners.

5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also the fact that the issue pertains to a temple dispute, and that it is a case, case in counter, and that the injured persons have already been discharged from the hospital, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners, subject to certain conditions.

6. Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, on condition that each of the petitioners shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned District Munsifcum-Judicial Magistrate, Singampunari, Sivagangai District, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy was made ready and on further conditions that:

[a] the petitioners and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the

Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity;

[b] the petitioners 1 to 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25 and 27 to 31 shall stay at Madurai and report before the Inspector of Police, Tallakulam Police Station, Madurai, daily at 10.30 a,m., until further orders. The petitioners 18, 21, 23 and 26 shall report before the respondent Police daily at 10.30 a,m., until further orders.

[c]the petitioners shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [d]the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial.

[e]On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned 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 are 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

S.SRIMATHY, J.

smn2 [(2005)AIR SCW 5560].

[f]If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS.

(S S Y J) 07.05.2026 smn2 To

1. The Inspector of Police, Nerukuppai Police Station, Sivagangai District.

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

3. The Inspector of Pollice, Tallakulam Police Station, Madurai.

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD)No.9024 of 2026