Abrojakani Mohammed Iqbal v. The State of Tamilnadu Rep by the Inspector of Police,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 17.07.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR CRL OP(MD)No.14631 of 2026

1.Abrojakani Mohammed Iqbal

2.Jafriya Nachiyal Mohammed Iqbal ... Petitioners / Accused Rank Not Known

Versus The State of Tamil Nadu rep by The Inspector of Police, Kabisthalam Police Station, Thanjavur District. (Crime No.345 of 2026) ... Respondent/Complainant PRAYER :-Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking to enlarge the petitioners on bail in the event of arrest in Crime No.345 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, or on their appearance. For Petitioners : M/s.S.Prabha

For Respondent : Mr.J.Vishnu, Government Advocate (Criminal Side) ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioners, who apprehend arrest in connection with Crime No.345 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, registered for the offences punishable under Section 194(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 altered to Sections 85, 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, seek the relief of anticipatory bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the deceased married A1 on

12.04.2026. It is alleged that, from the date of marriage, A1 and the present petitioners, who are the mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the deceased, subjected her to cruelty and harassment in connection with dowry demands. It is further alleged that the gold jewels entrusted by the deceased's family at the time of marriage were kept in the common almirah of the matrimonial home and that, subsequently, a portion of the said jewels was found to have been broken and removed. It is also alleged that the petitioners continuously demanded two sovereigns of gold, which had allegedly been promised at the time of marriage, and supported A1 in harassing the deceased. The prosecution further alleges that the petitioners went to the house of the deceased's parents, abused and criminally intimidated the defacto complainant, who is the father of the deceased, while demanding the additional dowry. Thereafter, A1 also visited the parental house of the deceased, threatened the family members, demanded money, and promised to return a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/-. Subsequently, the deceased was taken back to the matrimonial home, where she was again subjected to cruelty and harassment. Unable to bear the continuous harassment, the deceased is alleged to have committed suicide by hanging within three months of the marriage. Hence, the respondent police initially registered a case under Section 194(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and thereafter altered the case for the offences under Sections 85 and 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are only the mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the deceased and have been falsely implicated. He further submitted that there are no specific overt acts attributable to the petitioners and that they are ready to cooperate with the investigation. Therefore, he prayed for grant of anticipatory bail.

¶4Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), by producing the alteration report, reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the petitioners had actively participated in harassing the deceased, misappropriating her jewels and persistently demanding additional dowry. He further submitted that A1 has already been arrested and that the investigation is still in progress. Therefore, he opposed the grant of anticipatory bail.

¶5This Court has carefully considered the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record.

¶6The materials disclose serious allegations regarding the active role of the petitioners in subjecting the deceased to cruelty and dowry-related harassment. The allegations further reveal that, within a short span of about three months from the date of marriage, the deceased allegedly committed suicide on account of such continuous harassment. Considering the gravity of the allegations, the nature of the offence, the materials collected during the course of investigation, and the fact that the case involves allegations of dowry death, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed.

17.07.2026 pal To

1.The Inspector of Police, Kabisthalam Police Station, Thanjavur District.

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