A.Devadoss v. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police,

ORDER The prayer in this Criminal Original Petition is to de-freeze the petitioner's Account No.913010055578714 maintained in the Axis Bank, Maduravoyal Branch, Chennai.

¶2From the submission of the learned counsel for the Petitioner, it can be seen that the 1st respondent has directed to freeze the said account pursuant to the investigation in Crime No.117 of 2026.

¶3Upon considering the allegations in the FIR, the defacto complainant has complained of offences under Sections 406 and 420 read with 120B of IPC. Hence, the case is registered and the matter is said to be under investigation.

¶4The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the matter is pure and simple civil in nature and the registration of the case itself is incorrect. Further, the records will categorically show that no such amount is due to the defacto complainant.

¶5I have considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for the respondent. Page3 of 5

¶6When the investigation is on for offences under Section 406, 420 and 120B of IPC, which relate to cheating of amounts to the defacto complainant, the action of the respondent in freezing the bank account cannot be acceptance.

¶7The learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that it is civil in nature and the same will come out only after the investigation.

¶8In view thereof, liberty is granted to the petitioner to place such records before the Investigating Officer. The Investigating Officer can take into account all those facts pleaded by the petitioner, if he chooses to place it before the Investigating Officer. As and when the final report is filed and taken on file by the Trial Court, the petitioner is entitled to move the same application before the Trial Court and the trial court will consider the same on its own merits.

¶9With the above observations, the prayer in this Criminal Original Petition at this stage cannot be countenanced. The respondent police is directed to complete the investigation and file the final report within a period of four (4) months from the date of receipt of the web copy of this order. Page4 of 5

¶10This Criminal Original Petition stands disposed of. 09-07-2026 jas To

1.The Inspector of Police, Team-8, Central Crime Branch, Tambaram City Police, Sholinganallur, Chennai 600 119.

2.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court. CRLoOPoNo.o17852oofo2026 D.BHARATHAoCHAKRAVARTHY,oJ. jas CRLoOPoNo.o17852oofo2026 09-07-2026 Page5oofo5

Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY A.Devadoss ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by The Inspector of Police, Team-8, Central Crime Branch, Tambaram City Police, Sholinganallur, Chennai 600 119. 2. The Branch Manger, Axis Bank, Maduravoyal Branch, No.442, P.H.Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai 600 095. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of BNSS, to De-Freeze the Petitioner's Account No.913010055578714 maintaining in the Axis Bank, Maduravoyal Branch, Chennai. For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Sathish Kumar For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Rajasekaran Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for R1 Page2 of 5