Senthilkumar @ Senthil v. The State Of Tamil Nadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.07.2025 CORAM :
THE HON`BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI Crl.OP(MD)No.11754 of 2025 1.Senthilkumar @ Senthil 2.S.Vijay 3.Rajakali 4.Ramakalidoss @ Ramamoorthy 5.Kalivijay @ Maruthu Pandi ... Petitioners Vs.
1.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nilakottai Division, Dindigul District.
2.The Inspector of Police, Batlagundu Police Station, Dindigul District.
(Crime No.254 of 2025) 3.Lakshmanan ... Respondents Prayer : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, to direct the Special Court for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Dindigul District to accept the surrender of the petitioners/A1 to A5 and to consider their bail 1/6
application and grant bail on the date of the surrender itself in Crime No.254 of 2025 dated 29.06.2025.
For Petitioners : Mr.M.Sankar For R1 & R2 : Mr.P.Kottaichamy, Government Advocate (Crl. Side)
ORDER
The petitioners are A1 to A5 in Crime No.254 of 2025 on the file of the second respondent Police. The said case was registered for the offences under Sections 191(2), 191(3), 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), 351(2) BNS and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Therefore, the petitioners have filed this petition seeking a direction to the Special Court for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Dindigul District to consider their bail application on the same day of their surrender. 2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that Section 18 of the SC/ST (POA) Act prohibits grant of 2/6
anticipatory bail in the cases registered under the SC/ST (POA) Act. He further submits that this case is a foisted one and the petitioners will prove their innocence. In view of the bar under Section 18 of the SC/ST (POA) Act, the petitioners are inclined to surrender before the Special Court concerned and to seek regular bail. However, the petitioners seek a direction for disposal of the bail application on the same day. He further submits that this Court in similar circumstances had issued directions to the Courts concerned where FIR is pending, to consider the bail application filed by the accused on the same day of their surrender.
3.The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the official respondents submits that the injured person has been discharged from the hospital.
4.This Court has considered the submissions made on either side and perused the available materials placed before this Court. 5.Considering the above facts and circumstances, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed with a direction to the petitioners to 3/6
surrender before the Special Court for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Dindigul District within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and the learned Judge of the Special Court is directed to entertain the bail application if any filed by the petitioners on the same day. In the meantime, the petitioners shall serve a copy of the bail petition well in advance to the defacto complaint along with the proposed date of their surrender, enabling the complainant to submit their arguments, if any. The Public Prosecutor concerned is expected to be available in the Court and the Public Prosecutor can very well get instructions with the available scientific modes. The bail application in any event shall be disposed on merits on the same day. 11.07.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes gns 4/6
To 1.The Special Court for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Dindigul District. 2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nilakottai Division, Dindigul District.
3.The Inspector of Police, Batlagundu Police Station, Dindigul District.
4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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B.PUGALENDHI, J.
gns Crl.OP(MD)No.11754 of 2025 11.07.2025 6/6