Manoj Kumar @ Kalivarathan v. State Rep By,

ORDER The petitioners/Accused No.1 to 9, 11 to 20, 22 to 29, 31 to 38, who are facing trial for the alleged offences under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC in C.C.No.828 of 2025 on the file of learned Judicial Magistrate, Sulur, have filed the above quash petition.

¶2On the complaint given by the Sub Inspector of Police, Sulthanpet Police Station, a case in Crime No.198 of 2022 was registered by the respondent Police for offences under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC against the petitioners and 3 others. On completion of investigation, charge sheet came to be filed listing five witnesses as LW1 to LW5 and documents.

¶3The gist of the complaint is that on 15.06.2022, at about

9.00a.m., the petitioners along with other accused persons had unlawfully gathered near Vadugapalayam cut road at Senjeriputhur and had protested demanding a speed breaker in the Palladam to Udhumalai Highway and thereby restricted the traffic movement in the highway and thereby resulting in lodging of complaint by the Sub Inspector of Police, Sulthanpet Police Station. As already stated, on completion of investigation, charge sheet came to be filed before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Sulur and the same was taken on file as C.C.No.828 of 2025. Page7 of 10

¶4The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are innocent and a false case has been foisted upon them. According to the learned counsel, there are no materials to prove that the petitioners have committed the offences as alleged by the prosecution.

¶5The learned counsel further submitted that this Court in the case of "Madhan Mohan Versus The State and another in Crl.O.P.Nos.23129 & 23127 of 2019" on similar grounds, quashed the proceedings against the accused. Hence, he prayed for quashing of the proceedings against the petitioners.

¶6The learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondent submitted that the petitioners along with others, without getting permission from the authorities concerned, had formed themselves into an unlawful assembly, restrained the others and caused traffic disturbance in the highways. On completion of investigation, charge sheet has been filed in this case.

¶7Considered the submissions on either side and perused the materials on record. Page8 of 10

¶8It is seen from the statements of witnesses, L.W.s 1 to L.W.5 that on the date of occurrence, around 38 persons had formed themselves into an unlawful assembly and protested demanding a speed breaker in the Palladam to Udhumalai Highway and thereby restricted the traffic movement in the highway. The petitioners are also shown to be one of the accused. Admittedly, in this case, the occurrence had taken place in a public place and in public view. However, no public or independent witnesses were examined by the prosecution, which causes a serious doubt on the veracity of the complaint. Further, in consequence to the protest, the prosecution failed to show whether any trouble arose and injuries caused. In several cases, this Court quashes the proceedings against the accused/protesters on similar ground, holding it is one form of democratic right.

9.In the result, the proceedings in C.C.No.828 of 2025 on the file of learned Judicial Magistrate, Sulur is hereby quashed in so far as the petitioners are concerned. This Criminal Original Petition is allowed accordingly. Consequently, the connected Criminal Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 06-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Page9 of 10 vrc To

1.The Judicial Magistrate, Sulur.

2.The Inspector of Police, Sulthanpet Police Station, Coimbatore District.

3.The Public Prosecutor High Court, Madras. CRLoOPoNo.o8361oofo2026 M.NIRMALoKUMAR,oJ. vrc CRLoOPoNo.o8361oofo2026 06-04-2026 Page10oofo10

Page1 of 10 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 06-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR CRL OP No. 8361 of 2026 & Crl.MP.No.5937 of 2026 1. Manoj Kumar @ Kalivarathan S/O. Kalimuthu, No.3/164, Vadugapalayam, 2. Senthilkumar S/o.Veerasamy, No.3/170B, 3. Iyappan S/o.Palanisamy, 3/154, 4. Kokila Devi @ Kokila W/o. Devaraj, 13/17, Rangampudhur, Pollachi, Periya Negamam, Coimbatore. 5. Ramakrishnan S/o. Palanisamy, No.3/131, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 6. Deelipkumar S/o. Rajan, No.3/204 (58), Page2 of 10 7. Naveen S/o. Dharmaraj, No.3/193, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 8. Muthukumar S/o. Veerasamy, 3/204, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 9. Ramesh S/o.Thiruman, No.3/173, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 10.Vadivel @ Vishnu Kumar S/o. Murugan, 3/204.31, Indhira Nagar, 11.Jayanthi D/o. Kanagaraj, 3/71, S.Ayyampalayam, Sulur Taluk, Coimbatore. 12.Sureshkumar S/o.Rangasamy, 3/204,S.P.Vadugapalayam, 13.Mugesh Kumar S/o. Rangasamy, 3/204, S.P.Vadugapalayam, (wrongly mentioned chargesheet Maheshkumar) 14.Marimuthu@ Mohanraj S/o. Kittusamy, 3/204,S.P.Vadugapalayam, Page3 of 10 15.Bharanidharan S/o. Maniyan, 3/402,S.P.Vadugapalayam, 16.Murugan S/o.Aaran, 3/187, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 17.Gowtham S/o.Devaraj, 3/204(42), Indhira Nagar, 18.Senthilkumar S/o. Magali, 3/123A, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 19.Murugan S/o. Ammasai, 3/204, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 20.Vijayakumar S/o. Duraisamy, 3/140, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 21.Ashok kumar S/o. Muthusamy, 3/112,S.P.Vadugapalayam, 22.Anandan @ Anandaraj S/o. Velusamy, 3/20,S.P.Vadugapalayam, 23.Kalimuthu S/o. Aaran, Page4 of 10 3/164, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 24.Amsaveni W/o. Balamurugan, 3/204(3), Indhira Nagar,. 25.Kavitha W/o. Murugan, 3/204(52), Indhira Nagar, 26.Sumathy W/o. Ramasamy, 3/76, Vadugapalayam, 27.Poovathal W/o. Veeran, 3/153, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 28.Sandhamani C/o. Perumal, 3-126, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 29.Mandiral C/o. Selvan, 4/204-7, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 30.Manikandan S/o. Magali, 3/170, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 31.Sabari @ Sabarinadhan S/o. Balamurugan, Page5 of 10 3/204(3), Indhira Nagar, 32.Akilan S/o. Kannimuthu, 2/172, Senjeriputhur, Sulur Taluk, Coimbatore. 33.Prabu S/o. Perumal, 3/106, Vadugapalayam, J.Krishnapuram, Sulur Taluk, Coimbatore. 34.Ravi @ Ravishankar S/o. Gopalan, 3/204, S.P.Vadugapalayam, 35.Sakthivel S/o. Manthirasalam, 4/204(52), S.P.Vadugapalayam, ..Petitioner(s) Vs State Rep by, Inspector of Police, Sultanpettai Police Station, Coimbatore. Crime No.198/2022. ..Respondent(s) Prayer : Criminal Original Petition filed under section 528 of BNSS to call for the records pertaining to the Final Report in C.C.No.828/2025 pending on the file of the Honble Judicial Magistrate, Sulur and quash the same. For Petitioner(s): Mr.A.Mohamed Ismail For Respondent(s): M/S. LEONARD ARUL JOSEPH SELVAM ADDITIONAL PP Page6 of 10