Vinothkumar v. State Rep by

ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on

03.06.2026 for the alleged offence under Sections 354, 420, 406, 506(i) of IPC @ Section 354, 387, 420, 376 and 506(i) of IPC in Crime No.21 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. Page2 of 6

¶2The allegation against the petitioner is that he took certain objectionable photographs of the defacto complainant and, by threatening to upload the same on online, extorted a substantial quantity of gold jewellery and cash from her. Hence, the complaint.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that the petitioner was arrested and remanded to judicial custody since

03.06.2026. He further submitted that he is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prays to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶4The learned counsel for the intervener adopted the submissions made by the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) and opposed the grant of bail. Hence, he prayed for dismissal of the bail petition.

¶5Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and produced the statement of the victim recorded under section 183 of the BNSS on 08.06.2026. He further submitted that a substantial quantity of gold jewellery and cash is yet to be recovered from the petitioner. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail Page3 of 6 to the petitioner.

¶6I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

¶7Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the statement of the victim recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, this Court finds that there had been a close acquaintance between the defacto complainant and the petitioner for a considerable period of time. Taking into consideration the period of long incarceration of the petitioner since 03.06.2026, this Court is of the firm view that further incarceration of the petitioner is not required. Hence, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail subject to certain conditions.

¶7Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Dharmapuri, and on further conditions that: [a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the Application for Surety ship [Judicial Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019']. The learned Magistrate shall obtain a copy of any one of the identity proofs to ensure their identity; Page4 of 6 [b] the petitioner shall stay at Virudhunagar and report before the Virudhunagar Town Police Station daily at 10.30 a.m. for the period of two weeks and thereafter report before the respondent police as and when required for interrogation; [c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [e] On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned 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)13 SCC 283]; [f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S. 09-07-2026 DRL Page5 of 6 Note:

¶1Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court.

¶2All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code. To

1.The Judicial Magistrate No.I, Dharmapuri.

2.The Inspector of Police, AWPS Dharmapuri.

3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Salem.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras. CRLoOPoNo.o17308oofo2026 C.KUMARAPPAN,oJ. DRL CRLoOPoNo.o17308oofo2026 (2/2) 09-07-2026 Page6oofo6

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Vinothkumar S/o. Ramamoorthy, No.2/306, Ramalingasamy Koil Street, Thenkeeranur, Kallakurichi District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs State rep by The Inspector of Police, AWPS Dharmapuri, Crime No.21 of 2026 ..Respondent(s) Prayer : Criminal Original Petition filed under section 483 of BNSS, 2023 to enlarge the petitioner on bail in crime No.21 of 2026 pending on the file of the respondent police For Petitioner(s): Mr.R.Thamarai Selvan For Respondent(s): For Intervener : Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar, Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) Ms.K.Nandhini