Raju v. The State Of Tamil Nadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 26.02.2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY CRL OP(MD)No.18157 of 2025
1. R.Raju
2. Isabella Leema Raju ... Petitioners Vs.
The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by the Inspector of Police, Tamil University Police Station, Thanjavur District.
(Crime No.445 of 2025) ... Respondent For Petitioners : Mr.P.Praveenkumar For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Manoj Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For Intervenor : Mr.S.Punniyamoorthy PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Cr.No.445 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police.
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 417 and 420 of IPC, 1860 in Crime 1/6
No.445 of 2025, on the file of the respondent police, seek anticipatory bail. 2.The case of the prosecution is that based on the case received from the Learned Judicial Magistrate No.II Thanjavur in Crl.M.P.No.600 of 2025 stating that the de-facto complainant namely Janaki along with her husband who is a Retired Headmaster, lodged a complaint that about 15 years ago, a couple named Raju@Rajendran and his wife Isabella Lima lived opposite to their house as tenants. The said Raju worked at the Aavin Milk Depot at Nanjikottai Road. In the year 2015, Raju and Isabella approached Janaki and her husband, claiming that they were bidding for milk van tender at Aavin and promised a monthly income of Rs.20,000/-. They persuaded the couple to invest, stating that they had previously profited from such tenders. The said Raju demanded Rs.
5,01,900/- to secure the tender. Despite the initial hesitation, Janaki and her husband mortgaged their house and obtained a loan from Karandhai Dravida Cooperative Bank and handed over Rs.5,00,000/- to Raju. However, Raju failed to secure any tender and did not return the money. The de-facto complainant says that Raju and Isabella deceived them with false promises and took the money under fraudulent pretences. Despite repeated requests, the couple refused to repay and even threatened the de-facto complainant of their life. Hence, the apprehension of arrest.
the petitioners.
3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners have been falsely implicated in this case and they have not committed any offence. He seeks this Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners.
4.The learned Government Advocate (Crl. side) appearing for the respondent submitted that the offences committed by the petitioners are serious in nature.
5.Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners with certain conditions. 6.Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, on condition that the petitioners shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/-(Rupees Ten Thousand only) each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the Learned Judicial Magistrate No.2, Thanjavur, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready and on further conditions that: 3/6
[a]the petitioners and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity. [b] the petitioners are directed to deposit a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Only) in two installments, to the credit of Crime No.445 of 2025 before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.2, Thanjavur. The 1st installment of Rs.10,000/- shall be paid at the time of producing surety and the 2nd installment of Rs.90,000/- shall be paid within a period of six months therefrom.
After receipt of entire amount, the learned Judicial Magistrate, shall deposit the said amount in an interest bearing Fixed Deposit in any Nationalized Bank initially for a period of one year and renew them periodically until the final order/Judgment is passed in the case in Crime No. 445 of 2025. The learned Judicial Magistrate or Trial Court shall pass orders regarding entitlement of the said amount in its final order/Judgment. [c]the petitioners shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter, as and when required. [d]the petitioners shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial.
[e]the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. [f]On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned 4/6
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 is 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 of BNS.
26.02.2026 TMG TO
1. Judicial Magistrate No.II, Thanjavur.
2.The Inspector of Police, Tamil University Police Station, Thanjavur District.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench Of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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S.SRIMATHY,J TMG
ORDER
IN CRL OP(MD) No.18157 of 2025 Date : 26.02.2026 6/6