Gopal @ Gopalan v. The Inspector Of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 17.10.2023 PRESENT The Hon`ble MR JUSTICE V.SIVAGNANAM 1.Gopal @ Gopalan 2.Abishek ... Petitioners/Accused 1 & 2 Vs The State rep.by, The Inspector of Police, Palani Adivaram Police Station, Dindigul District.

(Crime No.292 of 2023) ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioners : Mr.T.Lenin Kumar, Advocate For Respondent : Mr.R.Suresh Kumar, Government Advocate(Crl.side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.438 of Cr.P.C PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.292 of 2023 on the file of the Respondent Police. 1/7

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioners, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 420 & 506(i) IPC in Crime No.292 of 2023, seek anticipatory bail.

2.The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant is a driver and he was working under the petitioners herein, for more than 10 years. The first petitioner is running a banana chips manufacturing unit, namely, SPG Nendhiram Chips at Palani. The first petitioner told the complainant that is he purchases a 6 wheeler, it can be utilized in the manufacturing unit. Believing the words of the first petitioner, the complainant purchased a vehicle bearing Reg.No.TN-22-CQ-9934 by availing loan. Considering the demand, the complainant purchased another vehicle bearing Reg.No.TN-22-CQ-6950 and rented out the two vehicles to the first petitioner. Since the complainant's wife fell in ill, he was forced to take leave and hence, the first petitioner terminated the complainant from his job. Since he was not able to pay EMI, he agreed to sell those vehicles to the first petitioner. In connection with the same, the complainant executed T.O. Form in favour of the first petitioner. After receiving T.O.form, the first petitioner did not pay the sale consideration. When the 2/7

complainant requested the petitioners to pay the sale consideration, they threatened him with dire consequences. Hence the case.

3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are innocent persons and they have not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that the petitioners paid the entire sale consideration and they have also received sale receipts dated 12.06.2023 and 24.05.2023. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail. 4.The learned Government Advocate(Crl.side) appearing for the respondent police would submit that investigation is pending and hence, he objected to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners.

5.On perusal of records, it is noticed that the petitioners paid the entire sale consideration and they also produced the sale receipts. This Court handed over the said sale receipts for verification. On verification, they reported that the signature found in the sale receipts is belonged to the defacto complainant and the same is not disputed by the defacto complainant.

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6.Taking into consideration the principles stated by the Honourable Supreme Court in Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia Etc., vs. State of Punjab reported in 1980 AIR 1632 and Lal Kamlendra Pratap Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and others reported in (2009)4 SCC 437 and Joginder Kumar vs. State of U.P. and others reported in (1994) 4 SCC 260 and taking into consideration the origin of crime, it is seen that the offence alleged as against the petitioners is not a case of heinous crime. Further the petitioners are having permanent residents at Dindigul District. Hence the principles stated in Hussainara Khatoon & Ors vs. Home Secretary, State Of Bihar reported in AIR 1979 SC 1360 is taken into consideration.

In that case, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has cautioned that pre-trial detention is not be encouraged nor is to be encourageable pre-trial release on sureties; that if the Court is satisfied after taking into consideration that the accused has his roots in the community and is not likely to abscond, he can safely be released on his personal bond. 7.In view of the above, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners. Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Palani on condition that the petitioners shall execute a own bond for a sum of Rs.

(Rupees Ten Thousand only) to the satisfaction of the respondent police or the police officer who intends to arrest or to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further condition that :

[a] the petitioners shall affix his photograph 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 petitioners shall report before the trial Court on summons. [c] the petitioners shall not tamper with 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 released on bail by the 5/7

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]. [f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 229A IPC.

sd/- 17/10/2023 / TRUE COPY / /11/2023 Sub-Assistant Registrar (C.S. ) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

gns TO 1.THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, PALANI.

2 DO THROUGH THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, DINDIGUL.

3.THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, PALANI ADIVARAM POLICE STATION, DINDIGUL DISTRICT.

4.THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI.

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+1 CC to M/s.T.LENINKUMAR, Advocate ( SR-15413[I] dated 18/10/2023 )

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.18473 of 2023 Date :17/10/2023 RK/DD (02/11/2023) 7P / 6C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 7/7