Venkateswar v. State of Tamilnadu Rep by Inspector of Police, Peravurani

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 24.07.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR CRL OP(MD)No.15345 of 2026

1.Venkateswar

2.Moorthy

3.Neelakandan

4.Dhanabal

5.Sathishkumar

6.V.Nagaraj ... Petitioners / Accused Nos.1 to 6

Versus The State of Tamil Nadu rep by The Inspector of Police, Peravurani Police Station, Thanjavur District. (Crime No.380 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.380 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, or on their appearance. For Petitioners : Mr.K.Dinesh

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.380 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 191(2) and 333 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, seek the relief of anticipatory bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the petitioners, along with others, unlawfully assembled in the weekly vegetable market and prevented the authorities from regulating the market. It is alleged that they obstructed the competent officials from discharging their official duties and permitted vendors to carry on retail vegetable business in the market without the permission of the authorities. Consequently, the competent officer lodged a complaint, based on which the present case has been registered.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the case has been foisted against the petitioners due to political vendetta. He further submitted that the petitioners have no previous criminal antecedents, no one sustained any injury in the alleged occurrence, and the weekly market had remained closed for a considerable period. According to the learned counsel, the petitioners merely demanded that the authorities reopen the market for the benefit of the public and the vendors, and on account of the said protest, the present complaint has been lodged.

¶4Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the investigation is at a nascent stage and that no accused has been arrested so far. Hence, he opposed the grant of anticipatory bail.

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

¶6Considering the nature of the allegations and the fact that the petitioners have no previous criminal antecedents, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners, subject to certain conditions.

¶7Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Peravurani, on condition that the petitioners shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate concerned and on further conditions that:

(a) the petitioners and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity;

(b) the petitioners shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m. for a period of one week, and thereafter as and when required for the interrogation;

(c) the petitioners shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;

(d) the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

(e) 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 petitioners 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]; and

(f) if the accused thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS, 2023.

24.07.2026 pal To

1.The Judicial Magistrate, Peravurani.

2.The Inspector of Police, Peravurani Police Station, Thanjavur District.

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