Ramesh v. The State Of Tamilnadu Rep.By

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 22/08/2025 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VADAMALAI Ramesh, S/o.Subbaiah Pitchai, ..Petitioner/ Accused Vs The State of Tamilnadu rep.by The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Dindigul.

(Crime No.09 of 2025) .. Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.P.Manikandan Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr.B.Thanga Aravindh Government Advocate (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Bail in Crime No.09 of 2025 on the file of the Respondent Police. ORDER : This Court made the following order :- The petitioner / Accused, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody 1/6

on 07.08.2025 for the offences punishable under Section 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 in Crime No.09 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the defacto-complainant purchased a house at Ayyampalayam Village in S.No.1006 from one Muthu Chettiar on 16.03.2022 through a registered sale deed. Then the defacto-complainant applied for patta name transfer through online. But, his online applications were rejected, therefore he met Surveyor Mr.Jeevan and asked about the same, further he directed him to meet the concerned VAO to include his name in the joint patta, after that only he make arrangement to get individual patta. At his instigation, he met the accused who is served as VAO in the Ayyampalayam village and asked for issuance of patta in his name. This petitioner/VAO demanded Rs.3000/- as bribe from the defactocomplainant. After negotiation, this petitioner agreed to reduce the bribe amount as Rs.2500/-.

The defacto-complainant lodged a complaint before the respondent police. As per the complaint given by the defacto-complainant, the Vigilance officials had conducted a trap proceedings on 06.08.2025, at that time, the defacto-complainant handed over the tainted bribe money to this petitioner, this petitioner received the money and counted the same in both hands and kept inside his right side table drawer, at that time, this petitioner was caught red-handed by the Vigilance officials.

Hence, the case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that this petitioner was falsely implicated in the said case, the defacto-complainant failed to produce valid documents and there are some discrepancies in the document. Therefore, this petitioner directed the defacto-complainant to rectify the same. But, the defactocomplainant lodged a false complaint against this petitioner. This petitioner is an innocent person and she has not committed any offences as alleged by the prosecution. The petitioner is ready and willing to abide any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. He would further submit that the petitioner is in custody from 07.08.2025, nearly 15 days. Hence, he seeks bail.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) would submit that this petitioner working as a Village Administrative Officer in the Ayyampalayam Village. This petitioner demanded Rs.2500/- as bribe from the Defacto-complainant for issuance of patta in the name of the defacto-complainant. The Defacto-complainant lodged a complaint before the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Dindigul based on his complaint, a trap proceedings was conducted on 06.08.2025, this petitioner received the bribe amount of Rs.2500/-. and he caught red handed by the respondent police and he was arrested and remanded into judicial custody on 07.08.2025. The tainted currency notes were recovered from the petitioner. It is the clear case of demand and 3/6

acceptance of bribe money. There is no previous case against the petitioner. However, he objected to grant bail to the petitioner.

5.Taking into consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and also taking note of the fact that in this case, the entire property were recovered from the petitioner, there is no previous case against this petitioner, the petitioner/accused remanded into judicial custody on 07.08.2025, taking into consideration of the period of incarceration, this court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions:

6. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on executing 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 learned Principal District Court, Dindigul and on further conditions that :- [a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity.

[b] The petitioner shall furnish his residential address and contact number to the learned Principal District Court, Dindigul. If the petitioner changes his residential address, he shall report the same to the learned Principal District Court, Dindigul; 4/6

[c] the petitioner shall appear and sign before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders.

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

[f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner 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 BNS.

sd/- 22/08/2025 / TRUE COPY 22/08 /2025 Sub-Assistant Registrar ( C.S. I / II / III / IV ) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

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TO 1 The Principal District Judge, Dindigul.

2 The Officer Incharge, Dindigul District Jail, Dindigul.

3 The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Dindigul.

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

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.14007 of 2025 Date :22/08/2025 AS/22.08.2025/6P/5C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023. 6/6