Lakshmi Prabha v. The Inspector Of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 22.11.2023 PRESENT The Hon`ble MR JUSTICE V.SIVAGNANAM Lakshmi Prabha ... Petitioner/Accused No.6 Vs The Inspector of Police, Chatrapatti Police Station, Dindigul District.

(Crime No.19 of 2022) ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner :

Mr.R.Gandhi, Senior Counsel, for M/S.Gandhi Associates For Respondent :

Mr.RMS.Sethuraman, Additional Public Prosecutor.

PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.438 of Cr.P.C PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.19 of 2022 on the file of the Respondent Police.

ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 120(b), 109, 342, 192, 34, 302 r/w 201 & 218 IPC in Crime No.19 of 2022 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory 1/5

bail.

2.The case of the prosecution is that on 27.02.2022, when the deceased harassed his wife, A1 assaulted him with cricket bat on his head and he was done to death. Originally the case was investigated by the petitioner herein. When the investigation was going on, the father of the deceased gave a complaint and based on the said complaint, the investigation was handed over to another officer. The new investigation officer on completion of the investigation has laid charge sheet against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 201, 218 IPC alleging that the petitioner being the investigation officer, has failed to investigate the case properly and submitted incorrect evidence before the Court. The petitioner also failed to obtain call details of the accused to ascertain the truth, failed to conduct proper investigation and failed to seize the material object found near the body. Hence, the case.

3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioner is an innocent and she has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail. 4.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police would submit that the petitioner being the investigation officer, failed to conduct proper investigation in the present case. Now, investigation in this case is completed 2/5

and charge sheet filed in PRC.No.31 of 2023 before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Oddanchathiram.

5.Considering the nature of allegations levelled as against the petitioner and 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 petitioner is not a case of heinous crime. Further the petitioner is having permanent residence 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 pretrial 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.

6.In view of the above, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which 3/5

the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Oddanchatram on condition that the petitioner shall execute a own bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (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 petitioner 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 his identity.

[b] the petitioner shall report before the trial Court on summons. [c] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial.

[d] the petitioner 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 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]. 4/5

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

sd/- 22/11/2023 / TRUE COPY / /12/2023 Sub-Assistant Registrar (C.S.) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

gns TO 1 THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE NO.I, ODDANCHATRAM. 2 DO THROUGH THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, DINDIGUL DISTRICT. 3 THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHATRAPATTI POLICE STATION, DINDIGUL DISTRICT.

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

+1 CC to M/s.M/S.GANDHI ASSOCIATES, Advocate ( SR-16738[I] dated 23/11/2023 ) ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.20954 of 2023 Date :22/11/2023 RS/DD/SAR-(07.12.2023) 5P 6C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 5/5