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

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 26/02/2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY Vasumathi ... Petitioner/Accused

Vs State of Tamilnadu Rep by, The Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch Police Station, Thanjavur District. Crime No. 4 of 2026. ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.K.Thenrajan, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.E.Antony Sahaya Prabhar, Additional Public Prosecutor PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec.483 of BNSS PRAYER :-For Bail in Crime No.4 of 2026 on the file of the respondent Police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :-

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 04.02.2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 316, 336, 336(3), 340, 318 of BNS, in Crime No.04 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

¶2The prosecution case is that the petitioner and the other accused, on the false promise of providing overseas employment in New Zealand and Canada, received a sum of Rs.1,30,55,000/- from 58 villagers through bank transfers and cash. The accused persons neither sent the said persons abroad nor returned the money, thereby cheating the de facto complainant. 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 in judicial custody from 04.02.2026. Hence, he seeks bail to the petitioner.

¶4TThe learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the accused persons cheated 58 victims to the tune of Rs.1.3 crore on the false promise of securing employment abroad. He further submitted that Accused No.1 is still in custody. Therefore, he opposed for grant of bail to the petitioner.

¶5Taking into consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and also considering the period of incarceration suffered by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions:

¶6Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate, Orathanadu, 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 is directed to deposit a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only), to the credit of Crime No.04 of 2026 before the learned District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate Court, Orathanadu. After receipt of entire amount, the learned Judicial Magistrate, shall deposit the said amount in an interest bearing Fixed Deposit in any Nationalized Bank initially for a period of one year and renew them periodically until the final order/Judgment is passed in the case in Crime No.04 of 2026. The learned Judicial Magistrate or Trial Court shall pass orders regarding entitlement of the said amount in its final order/Judgment. [c] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders. [d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [e] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. [f] 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]. [g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 BNS. (S S Y J)

26.02.2026 jbr S.SRIMATHY,J jbr TO

¶1The District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate Court, Orathanadu.

¶2The Superintendent, Women Prison, Trichy.

¶3The Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch Police Station, Thanjavur District.

¶4The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.4285 of 2026 Date : 26/02/2026