Sathiya Velu v. State Represented by Inspector of Police,

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

19.02.2026 for the alleged offence under Section 179 of BNS, 2023 in Crime No.107 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner has attempted to deposit 24 currency notes of Rs.200/- denomination Indian rupee before the de facto complainant, who was serving as the Branch Manager of SBI Bank. Since Page2 of 6 the said currency notes were counterfeit, the present complaint came to be lodged by the de facto complainant.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is an innocent person and that he has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that the petitioner has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody since 19.02.2026 and that a co-accused has already been granted bail by this Court in Crl.O.P.No.5484 of 2026 vide order dated 04.03.2026. Hence, he prayed to grant bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent Police also did not deny the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that a co-accused has already been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 04.03.2026.

¶5I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and also perused the records available.

¶6In view of the above submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and taking into consideration the allegation put forth against the petitioner and also the long incarceration undergone by him, at this length of time custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required and also that the co-Page3 of 6 accused were remanded and subsequently, granted bail by this Court on

04.03.2026, in order to maintain parity with the said order, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions.

¶7Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only), with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Dharmapuri, and subject to the following conditions:

(a) The sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the application for surety ship (Judicial Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019]'. The learned Magistrate shall obtain a copy of any one of identify proofs to ensure their identity;

(b) The petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, daily at 10.30 a.m. , for a period of four weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation;

(c) The petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

(d) The petitioner shall not tamper the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;

(e) On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate actions against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on anticipatory bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down Page4 of 6 by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji v. State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560];

(f) If the petitioner thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act. 23-03-2026 rap Note:

¶1Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court.

¶2All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code Page5 of 6 To

¶1The Inspector of Police, B-1, Dharmapuri Police Station, Dharmapuri District.

¶2The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

¶3The Superintendent, Sub Jail, Dharmapuri.

¶4The Judicial Magistrate No.1, Dharmapuri CRLoOPoNo.o7217oofo2026 C.KUMARAPPAN,oJ. rap CRLoOPoNo.o7217oofo2026 23-03-2026 Page6oofo6

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 23-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Sathiya Velu ..Petitioner(s) Vs State Represented By Inspector of Police, B-1, Dharmapuri Police Station, Dharmapuri District. Crime No.107 of 2026 ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.107 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner(s): Mr.P.Krishnakumar For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Vinoth Kumar Government Advocate (Crl.Side)