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Madras High CourtCRL OP(MD)/17839/2025disposed of

S.Venkatesan v. The State Of Tamilnadu

2025-12-16Honourable Mrs Justice L.Victoria Gowri6 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 16.12.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI S.Venkatesan ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Director General of Police (DGP), Office of the Director General of Police, Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai - 600004 2.The Commissioner of Police, Office of the Commissioner of Police, Opposite Central Prison, Trichy.

3.The Inspector of Police, CBCID, Khajamalai Colony, Edamalaipatti Pudur, Tiruchirappalli - 620020 4.The Inspector of Police, Woraiyur Police Station, Woraiyur, Trichy.

(Crime No.407 of 2025) ... Respondents 1/6

PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, to issue a direction directing respondent Nos.1 and 2 to withdraw the case in Crime No.407 of 2025 dated 08.07.2025 on the file of the fourth respondent and entrust the same to the third respondent for an investigation of the case by a Competent Officer and take appropriate action in accordance with law. For Petitioner : Mr.K.C.Maniyarasu, Advocate For Respondents : Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar, Government Advocate (Criminal Side)

ORDER

Seeking to transfer the investigation in Crime No.407 of 2025 dated 08.07.2025 from the file of the fourth respondent and to entrust the same to the third respondent, this Criminal Original Petition has been filed.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the case pertains to the alleged suicide of the petitioner's son at Bishop Heber College, situated at Puthur, Tiruchirappalli. On 07.07.2025, the warden of Bishop Heber College contacted the petitioner and made certain complaints against the petitioner's son. Pursuant thereto, on 08.07.2025, the petitioner went to the college hostel to meet his son, but was unable to find him either in the college or in the hostel. After searching throughout the college and hostel premises, at about 04.30 p.m., the petitioner was informed that his son had committed suicide in the bathroom of the hostel. Thereafter, the petitioner lodged a complaint before the 2/6

fourth respondent police. However, no progress has been made in the investigation.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that the college management went to the extent of depositing a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- in the petitioner's account in an attempt to appease him from lodging any complaint against the college authorities, and the proof of the same was placed before this Court for perusal. It was also submitted that though it is claimed that the petitioner's son died by suicide, he was found hanging by kneeling his legs touching the floor, which, according to the petitioner, rules out the possibility of suicide. In such circumstances, the investigation ought to have proceeded in that direction, but the fourth respondent failed to do so. Hence, the present petition.

4. Per contra, Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar, learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), submitted that the CCTV footage of the college was properly seized and examined and that it revealed that the deceased had not left the hostel either on the fateful day or on the previous day. He further submitted that on 07.07.2025, the warden informed the petitioner that the petitioner's son had come to the college after consuming alcohol, and consequently, the college 3/6

management requested the petitioner to meet them on the following day. However, on the very next day, the petitioner's son was found to have committed suicide inside the hostel bathroom. It was also submitted that a postmortem examination was duly conducted, the autopsy report has been sought for, and the investigation is presently in progress. Hence, there is no necessity to transfer the investigation to the CBCID, and the present petition deserves to be dismissed.

5. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

6. In view of the fact that the college had offered a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- to the petitioner, this Court is of the considered view that the fourth respondent police should look into the matter with seriousness. Therefore, this Court directs the fourth respondent to ascertain as to how the death would have happened when the legs of the deceased remained touching the floor. This Court further directs the second respondent to monitor the investigation conducted by the fourth respondent. The fourth respondent is directed to submit a status update to the second respondent every Friday and to conclude the investigation as expeditiously as possible.

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7. With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of.

16.12.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No mkn To 1.The Director General of Police (DGP), Office of the Director General of Police, Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai - 600004 2.The Commissioner of Police, Office of the Commissioner of Police, Opposite Central Prison, Trichy.

3.The Inspector of Police, Woraiyur Police Station, Woraiyur, Trichy.

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

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L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.

mkn 16.12.2025 6/6