Raja v. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 17/02/2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY

1.Raja

2.Kavitha

3.Murugesan @ Murugesapandian

4.Ramkumar ... Petitioners/A2, A4 to A6 Vs

1.The State of Tamilnadu Rep., By, the Sub Inspector of Police, South Gate Police Station (Taluk PS), Madurai City. (Crime No.218 of 2025)

2.The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Madurai City. ... Respondents/Complainants (R2 is impleaded as per order of this Court dated

15.12.2025 in Crl.M.P.(MD).No.19994 of 2025) For Petitioner : Mr. R.kannan Kumar Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Manoj, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For Intervener : M/s.M.Viji PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.218 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police... ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioners, who apprehend arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Section 420 of IPC, in Crime No.218 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seek anticipatory bail.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant received a sum of Rs.28,01,000/- by pledging 651 grams of gold jewellery to the petitioners' pawn company, namely, B.V.R. Gold Testing Company. Thereafter, the defacto complainant repaid the entire amount. However, the petitioners failed to return the aforesaid gold jewellery. Hence, the complaint.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioners are innocent persons and they have not committed any offences as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that the petitioners are ready and willing to abide by any conditions which may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail to the petitioners.

¶4The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for the respondent police submitted that now the case has been transferred from the file of the first respondent to the second respondent Police. Hence, he opposed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners.

¶5Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the petitioner had complied the condition of the interim anticipatory bail already granted, hence is made absolute, since there is no previous case pending against the petitioners, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners, subject to certain conditions.

6.Accordingly, this petition is allowed and the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, on condition that the petitioners shall execute 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 Judicial Magistrate No.IV, Madurai, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy is made ready 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 Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity; [b] the fourth petitioner shall report before the second respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m, until further orders

and

cooperate

for

the investigation. The petitioners 1 to 3 shall report before the second respondent Police once in a week ie., on Every Saturday at 10.30 a.m., for the period of four weeks and thereafter as and when required for interrogation; [c]the petitioners shall not tamper with the 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 petitioners in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioners 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]; [f]

If

the

petitioner/accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS. (S S Y J)

17.02.2026 vsg TO

1.The learned Judicial Magistrate No.IV, Madurai

2.The Sub Inspector of Police, South Gate Police Station (Taluk PS), Madurai City. (Crime No.218 of 2025)

3.The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Madurai City.

4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. S.SRIMATHY,J., vsg

ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.13958 of 2025 Date : 17/02/2026