Karthi @ Karthik v. The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by the Deputy Superintendent of Police

JUDGMENT The appellants are A1 to A12 in Crime No.362 of 2026, on the file of the second respondent police. They were arrested on 18.06.2026 in connection with the above case for the offences under Sections 191(2), 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), 329(3), 324(4), 351(3) of BNS and Sections 3(1)

(s), 3(1)(r), 3(1)(w)(ii) and 3(2)(va) of SC/ST (POA) Act. They moved a bail petition before the learned Sessions Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST (POA) Act, Dindigul in Crl.M.P.No.155 of 2026 and the same was dismissed by the trial Court on 25.06.2026. Challenging the same, the appellants have filed this Criminal Appeal.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that, on 17.06.2026, at about

09.30 p.m., the appellants 1 to 3 abused the defacto complainant's wife by referring to her caste name in front of the defacto complainant's house. Subsequently, at about 10.00 p.m., the appellants went to the house of the defacto complainant, attacked the defacto complainant and his relatives, abused them by referring to their caste name, and criminally intimidated them with dire consequences. Hence, the case.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the appellants submits that the appellants have been in judicial custody from 18.06.2026 onwards.

¶4According to the learned counsel, the first appellant / A1 and the defacto complainant's son are friends. When they were consuming liquor on 17.06.2026, a wordy quarrel arose. Consequently, appellants 2 to 12, who are friends of A1, along with A1, went to the place of occurrence and damaged the tiled roof of the defacto complainant's house. The learned counsel further submits that the present case has been foisted only to harass the appellants. He also submits that the appellants are coolies and have no bad antecedents.

¶5On an earlier occasion, this Court orally directed the learned Government Advocate to ascertain the nature of the damage caused to the houses of the defacto complainant and others.

¶6The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents 1 and 2, on instructions, submits that only the tiled roof of one house was damaged. She has also placed the photographs in that regard before this Court.

¶7Considering the nature of the occurrence, the fact that the first appellant / A1 and the defacto complainant's son were friends, and that the occurrence was the outcome of liquor consumption, this Court is inclined to allow this criminal appeal.

¶8Accordingly, this Criminal Appeal is allowed and the order passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST (POA) Act, Dindigul, in Crl.M.P.No.155 of 2026, dated 25.06.2026 is hereby set aside. The appellants are ordered to be released on bail on the following conditions:-

i) The appellants shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Sessions Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST (POA) Act, Dindigul.

ii) The appellants and the sureties shall submit a copy of their Aadhaar Card or any other identity card issued by the Government in proof of their residence address;

iii) The appellants shall appear and report before the respondent Police, daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders.

iv) On violation of any of the above conditions by the appellants, the respondent police shall move an application for cancellation of the bail.

17.07.2026 mbi To

¶1The learned Sessions Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST (POA) Act, Dindigul.

¶2The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palani Sub Division, Dindigul District.

¶3The Inspector of Police, Palani Taluk Police Station, Palani, Dindigul District.

4.The Officer-in-charge, District Prison, Dindigul District.

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

B.PUGALENDHI, J. mbi

CRL A(MD) No.767 of 2026

17.07.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 17.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI CRL A(MD)No.767 of 2026 1.Karthi @ Karthik 2.Kannadasan 3.Thasikumar 4.Veerakumar 5.Naveenkumar 6.Nandhakumar 7.Renganathan 8.Angamuthu Harish 9.Marimuthu 10.Harikrishnan 11.Manikandan 12.Mahendran ... Appellants/ A1 to A12 Vs 1. The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palani Sub Division, Dindigul District. 2. The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by, The Inspector of Police, Palani Taluk Police Station, Palani, Dindigul District. 3. Arumugm ... Respondents Prayer: Appeal filed under Section 14A(2) of SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989, as amended by Act 1/2016 to call for the records pertaining to the order dated 25.06.2026 in Crl.M.P.No.155 of 2026 on the file of the learned Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST (POA) Act, Dindigul to set aside the same and enlarge the appellant on bail in connection with the Crime No.362 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police by allowing the Criminal Appeal. For appellants : Mr.P.Rajkumar For Respondents : Mrs.V.Moushica, Government Advocate for R1 and R2 Mr.C.Ezhilarasu for R3