In a criminal original application filed before the Madras High Court under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking bail, a Single Judge Bench of Justice C. Kumarappan considered that the petitioner had been in custody for 61 days and granted him bail, holding that the complainant would not be disturbed by his release.
The petitioner was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 01-02-2026 for the alleged commission of offenses under Section 79 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), read with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998 (TNPHW Act). The petitioner was in a relationship with the complainant, and after some time, the complainant stopped contacting him due to a conflict. Thereafter, the complainant’s marriage arranged on 28-01-2026 was halted after the petitioner sent certain photographs to the families of the complainant and the groom. Hence, the present case was registered.
Considering that the petitioner had been under incarceration since 01-02-2026, the Court said that the complainant would not be disturbed by the petitioner if he were released on bail. Hence, the petitioner was ordered to be released upon execution of a bond in the amount of Rs. 25,000/- with two sureties of like amount.
The bail was granted subject to the petitioner’s daily appearance at the police station for two weeks and his not absconding either during the investigation or the trial. Abstaining from tampering with the evidence was another condition for the bail.
The Court held that the Magistrate/Trial Court would be entitled to act against the petitioner upon breach of any condition and that a fresh First Information Report would be registered against him under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), in case he absconds.
Appearances:
For Petitioner – Mr. V. Ramanareddy
For Respondents – Mr. S. Vinoth Kumar (GA)
