Muthukumar v. State of Tamilnadu Rep by Inspector of Police,

ORDER The petitioner apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Section 7(A) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 of BNS Act, 2023, in Crime No.6 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police seeks anticipatory bail.

¶2The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner, who is a village administrative officer, demanded a sum of Rs. 5,000/- for a patta transfer. Subsequently, the amount was reduced to Rs. 3,000/-, and the complainant was directed to pay the amount to Vivek, who was working in e-Seva centre and the amount was allegedly received by the said Vivek on the instruction of the petitioner. Hence, the case has been registered.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and he has not committed any such offence as alleged by the prosecution and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that the patta was issued prior to the demand and he did not directly receive the money and he is ready to co-operate with the investigation. Hence, he prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned Counsel For State of TN (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police, reiterated the prosecution case, and on instructions, reported that the investigation is at preliminary stage. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶5I have gone through the FIR and also the connected materials.

¶6Considering the nature of the allegation and the materials collected, since it is a case of receipt of amount of Rs.3,000/- and the petitioner did not receive any amount directly and the amount was allegedly paid to another person on the instruction of the petitioner and the same was confirmed after making a call, to investigate the case, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not necessary, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions. [a] Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the Principal District and Sessions Court, Ramanathapuram, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate concerned and on further conditions that: [b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police, daily at 10.30 a.m. for a period of three weeks, and thereafter as and when required for the interrogation. [c] the petitioner shall co-operate with the investigation and also submit a voice sample if any is required for the purpose of investigation. [d] the petitioner shall not commit any offences of similar nature. [e] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. [f] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [g] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Judicial 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 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]. [h] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S.

09.07.2026 dss To

1.The Principal District and Sessions Court, Ramanathapuram.

2.The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Ramanathapuram District.

3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. K. RAJASEKAR,J DSS ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.13270 of 2026 Date : 09/07/2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 09/07/2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR Muthukumar ... Petitioner/Accused No.1 Vs State of Tamilnadu Rep by, The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Ramanathapuram District. In Cr.No. 06/2026. ... Respondent/Complainant PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No. 06 of 2026 on the file of the Respondent Police. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Subash Babu, Senior Counsel for Subash Law Office, For Respondent : Mr.N.Balasubramanian, Counsel For State of TN (Crl.Side)