Venkatesh Alias Venkateshwaran v. The State of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 06.02.2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY Venkatesh @ Venkateshwaran ... Petitioner/A1 Vs State of Tamilnadu Rep by, The Inspector of Police, Anna Nagar Police Station, Madurai City. (In Crime No.64 of 2026) ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mrs.S.Uma Mageshwari Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Manoj, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- C-33AB For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No. 64 of 2026 on the file of the respondent Police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 191(1), 191(2), 296(b), 115(2) and 351(3) of BNS, 2023, and Section 3(1) of TN Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, in Crime No.64 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that on

31.01.2026, due to previous enmity, a fight broke out between the petitioner's group and a rival group in a private bar. At that time, both groups attacked each other and caused damage to the bar property. Hence, the complaint.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offences as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that the petitioner is ready and willing to abide by any conditions which may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for the respondent police submitted that no one sustained any injury. However, he opposed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶5Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also considering the fact that no one sustained any injury, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions.

6.Accordingly, this petition is allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.VI Madurai, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy is made ready and on further conditions that: [a]the petitioner and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity; [b] the petitioner shall stay at Ramanathapuram and report before the Inspector of Police, Ramanathapuram Poilce Station, Ramanathapura, daily at

10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter, report before respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m, for a period of two weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation. [c]the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [d]the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [e]On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner is released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560]; [f]

If

the

petitioner/accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS.

06.02.2026 vsg TO

1.The learned Judicial Magistrate No.VI, Madurai.

2.The Inspector of Police, Anna Nagar Police Station, Madurai City.

3.The Inspector of Police, Ramanathapuram Police Station, Ramanathapuram.

¶4The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. S.SRIMATHY,J., vsg ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.2379 of 2026 Date : 06.02.2026