M.Ilamparithi v. State Represented by

ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on

21.01.2026, for the offences punishable under Sections 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended by Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, in Crime No.1 of 2026, registered on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the first petitioner was working as a Commissioner, Coonoor Municipality and the second petitioner is the Junior Assistant working under the first petitioner at Coonoor Municipality and both of them have demanded bribe when the complainant approached them for approval of certain buildings. The first petitioner demanded Rs.6,00,000/- and subsequently, it was reduced to Rs.5,00,000/-. The defacto complainant has informed the same to the Vigilance Department and they have also laid trap and accordingly, while the complainant hand overed a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- to the second accused who in turn gave the said sum of the first accused, both were trapped and the phenolphthalein test was also found positive and hence, both were arrested and in custody.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are innocent and they have been falsely implicated in this case and submitted that the entire process of approval are only through online portal. However, it is stated that the petitioners demanded money for the purpose of manual applications which is totally impermissible and it substantiates the fact that they were falsely implicated in this case; they are in judicial custody from 21.01.2026 and the petitioners are ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, prays to grant bail to the petitioners.

¶4The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent while opposing the bail to the petitioner, reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the total amount was Rs.2,00,000/- which was received by both of them and the trap was laid and it is a clear case of receiving bribe for the purpose of granting approvals and that the further investigation of this case is pending.

¶5I have also gone through FIR and other connected records in this case. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and taking note of the above facts and it is of receiving a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- as bribe in cash from the defacto complainant for the purpose of issuing approvals and since the phenolphthalein test was also positive and the petitioner has been recently arrested, I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner herein.

¶6Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed.

06.02.2026 ssa To

¶1The Court of Sessions Judge, Niligiris District, Udhagamandalam.

2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, The Nilgiris. (Crime No.1 of 2026)

¶3The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

K. RAJASEKAR, J. ssa CRL OP NO.2786 of 2026

06.02.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 06.02.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR CRL OP NO.2786 of 2026 1.M.Ilamparithi S/o.Murugan 2.Vignesh.S S/o.Sagar ... Petitioners / Accused Vs The State rep. by, The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, The Nilgiris. (Crime No.1 of 2026) ... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to grant bail to the petitioners/accused in Crime No.1 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner(s) : Mr.K.Balasubramaniam For Respondent(s) : Mr. A. Gopinath Government Advocate (Crl. Side) *******