Ameerbatcha v. State of Tamilnadu Rep by Inspector of Police, Dcb

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 09.07.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR CRL OP(MD). No. 3118 of 2026 Ameerbatcha ... Petitioner

Vs

¶1State of Tamil Nadu rep. by The Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Trichy. (Crime No. 2 of 2026 )

¶2Mangeshkar (R2 is suo motu impleaded vide order dated 16.02.2026 in Crl.O.P.(MD) No.3118 of 2026) ...Respondent/Complainant

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Yogeswaran

Advocate.

For Respondents: Mr.N.Balasubramanian for R1 Counsel for the State of TN (Crl. Side) No Appearance for R2 For Intervenors : Mr.N.Kamesh M/s.Adithya Vijayalakshmi Mr.P.Ganapathi Subramanian Mr.V.G.Vallarasu Chezhiyan Mr.G.Kandhavadivelan Ms.S.Prabha Mr.A.Arul Jenifer PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Bail in Cr.No. 02 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner / Accused, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 25.01.2026, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of BNS, in Crime No.2 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner earlier was running a pawn broker shop and made promise to its customers that he would help them to redeem the jewels pledged in other places, subsequently, they can pledge the jewels with him. Further he assured that they can redeem the same by installment basis. On that promise 122 customers have come forward to re-pledge the gold jewels. However, it seems that the petitioner herein has not returned back the gold jewels and he sold the jewels claiming that the victims herein have not paid the interest or come forward to redeem the same. Hence, the case was registered. The petitioner was arrested on 25.01.2026. Thereafter he filed the present petition. Earlier Interim bail was granted to him on

16.02.2026.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and he was falsely implicated in this case and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that initially only one complaint from the defacto complainant was lodged. Thereafter, the petitioner was arrested and interim bail was granted on

16.02.2026 with condition to go for mediation with the defacto complainant. While negotiations, other 13 victims had approached the mediation centre with the very same claim. Hence, the mediation failed. The learned counsel further submitted that only after obtaining appropriate consent from the borrowers, he sold the property for their default. Hence, they are not entitled to made complaint as if their jewels have been sold. He would further submit that the petitioner was in judicial custody for a period of 26 days and ready to abide any condition imposed by this Court. Hence, he prayed bail for the petitioner.

¶4The learned Counsel appearing for the State reiterated the prosecution case and by filing counter reported that the totally there are 122 victims, total amount cheated is Rs.4.46 Crores, Approx. 1091.14 sovereigns of gold, have been entrusted with the petitioner and so far nothing is recovered. Hence, he vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner.

¶5This Court heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

¶6Considering that the huge quantity of gold ornaments have been cheated and the petitioner is involved in organized economic fraud, so far no money or gold is recovered, this Court is of the view that granting bail would hamper the investigation. It is also stated that investigation for the money trail is also going on. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.

7.Accordingly, interim bail granted by this Court on 16.02.2026 is hereby cancelled. The petitioner is directed to surrender before the respondent police or before the Judicial Magistrate concerned, within a period of three days, failing which, the respondent police shall take steps to bring him under the judicial custody, immediately.

8.With the above said directions, this criminal original petition stands dismissed.

(K R S J)

09.07.2026 TM To

1.The Judicial Magistrate No.I, Trichy.

2.The Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Trichy. (Crime No. 2 of 2026 )

3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Trichy.

4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

K. RAJASEKAR, J. TM ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No. 3118 of 2026 Date : 09.07.2026