E.Raji v. The Deputy Superintendent of Police

ORDER This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the learned Sessions Judge, Special Judge for SC/ST (POA) Act Cases, Vellore, to consider the bail application of the petitioner in Crime No. 289 of 2025 on the Page1 of 5 file of the Inspector of Police, Veppankuppam Police Station, Vellore District, on the very same day of his surrender.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant, who is the owner of two acres of land cultivated with cattle feed, paddy, and sugarcane, lodged a complaint alleging that one Teeka Raman and his relatives, being adjacent landowners, had allowed their cattle to trespass into her field and destroy the crops. When this was reported to A3, the petitioner along with other accused persons allegedly came to her house on 08.09.2025, abused her by referring to her caste, and assaulted her son Ajith Kumar with a wooden log, causing injuries for which he was taken to the hospital. Hence, she lodged the present complaint.

¶3According to the petitioner, he had only gone to the hospital to meet his relative Selvi, who was arrayed as A3 in connection with the dispute, and he has been falsely implicated despite not being present at the scene of occurrence.

¶4Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor for respondents 1 and 2. Perused the materials on record.

¶5On consideration of the submissions, it is seen that the defacto complainant and the petitioner are adjacent landowners. The defacto Page2 of 5 complainant was cultivating cattle feed, which was allegedly destroyed by the cattle of the neighbouring landowner. When questioned, the petitioner and others are alleged to have assaulted the complainant's son Ajith Kumar with a wooden log.

¶6In view of the above factual position, there shall be a direction to the learned Sessions Judge, Special Judge for SC and ST (POA) Act Cases, Vellore to consider the petitioner's bail application, preferably on the same day of his surrender, in connection with Crime No.289 of 2025 on the file of the second respondent Police and to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, after affording due opportunity to the victims under Section 15-A of the SC/ST

(PoA) Act, 1989. The petitioner shall surrender before the jurisdictional Court concerned within a period of fifteen days from the date of the receipt of a copy of this order.

¶7The Criminal Original Petition stands disposed of accordingly. 11-03-2026 nl Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Page3 of 5 To

1.The Deputy Superintendent of Police Gudiyatham, Vellore District.

2.The Inspector of Police Veppankuppam Police Station, Vellore District.

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras. Page4 of 5 CRLoOPoNo.o5303oofo2026 M.NIRMALoKUMAR,oJ. nl CRLoOPoNo.o5303oofo2026 11-03-2026 Page5oofo5

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 11-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR E.Raji ..Petitioner Vs 1.The Deputy Superintendent of Police Gudiyatham, Vellore District. 2.The Inspector of Police Veppankuppam Police Station, Vellore District. Cr.No. 289/2025. 3.Chitra ..Respondents To direct the Sessions Judge, Special court for SC and ST Act to consider the surrender and bail petition of the petitioner on the same day in Spl.S.C.No. 02/2026 on the file of the Sessions Judge, Special Court for SC and ST act Cases, Vellore, Vellore District. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Sathish Kumar For Respondents : Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam, Additional Public Prosecutor for R1 and R2