P.Saratha v. The State Of Tamil Nadu, Rep. By The Superintendent Of Police,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 05.12.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI P.Saratha ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The State Rep. by, The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

2.The Inspector of Police, Nilakottai Police Station, Nilakottai, Dindigul Disrict.

... Respondents 1/5

PRAYER : Petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023, to direct the second respondent to register the FIR as per the direction given by the learned Judicial Magistrate Court, Nilakottai, in Cr.M.P.No.4227 of 2024, dated 29.07.2024 within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioners : Mr.S.Malaikani For Respondent : Mr.M.Sakthi Kumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

ORDER

This criminal original petition has been filed seeking a direction to the second respondent to register the FIR as per the direction given by the learned Judicial Magistrate Court, Nilakottai, in Cr.M.P.No.4227 of 2024, dated 29.07.2024.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that, while travelling in a bus, the petitioner had kept her gold chain in her handbag and the same was stolen by a person who could be identified by the petitioner upon verification of the CCTV footage installed in the bus. In this regard, a 2/5

complaint was lodged before the respondent police on 07.11.2023, and thereafter, the second respondent issued a CSR receipt in C.S.R. No.625 of 2025. So far, the FIR has not been registered. Hence, the petitioner filed a petition in Cr.M.P. No.4227 of 2024 before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Nilakottai, and the same was allowed with a direction to the respondent police to conduct a preliminary enquiry and register an FIR. Even after a lapse of more than one year, the respondent police has failed to register the FIR. Hence, the present petition.

3.The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) submitted that enquiry will be completed within a month. The said statement is recorded. 4.Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on records.

5.Despite the direction passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate to conduct a preliminary enquiry and register an FIR, the matter has been kept pending for more than one year without concluding the investigation. Hence, this Court has taken serious note of the delay on the part of the second respondent with respect to the delay in completing the investigation. 3/5

Accordingly, the second respondent is specifically directed to conclude the investigation within a period of four weeks from today.

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

05.12.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No vsg TO:-

1. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

2.The Inspector of Police, Nilakottai Police Station, Nilakottai, Dindigul Disrict.

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

4/5

L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.

vsg Order made in Dated 05.12.2025 5/5