CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 11.03.2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 CRL OP(MD)No.4919 of 2026: S.Meenakshi @ Ponnuthai ... Petitioner / Accused No.2 Versus The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police, Thuckalay Police Station, Kanniyakumari District. (Crime No.553 of 2025) ... Respondent / Complainant PRAYER :-Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in C.C.No.44 of 2026 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court No.I, Padmanabhapuram in Crime No.553 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police. CRL OP(MD)No.4930 of 2026: S.Meenakshi @ Ponnuthai ... Petitioner / Accused No.2 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 Versus The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police, Thuckalay Police Station, Kanniyakumari District. (Crime No.521 of 2025) ... Respondent / Complainant PRAYER :-Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in C.C.No.43 of 2026 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court No.I, Padmanabhapuram in Crime No.521 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police. CRL OP(MD)No.4983 of 2026: S.Meenakshi @ Ponnuthai ... Petitioner / Accused No.2 Versus The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police, Thiruvattar Police Station, Kanniyakumari District. (Crime No.327 of 2025) ... Respondent / Complainant PRAYER :-Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in C.C.No.712 of 2025 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court No.II, Padmanabhapuram in Crime No.327 of 2025 on the file of the respondent 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 police. For Petitioner : Mr.H.Mohammed Farook, (in all cases) Advocate For Respondent : Mr.S.Ravi, (in all cases) Additional Public Prosecutor COMMON ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 12.11.2025, 12.11.2025 and 04.12.2025 for the offences punishable under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860), in Crime Nos.553 of 2025, 521 of 2025 and 327 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police respectively, seeks bail. 2. 2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner, along with A1, committed theft of 8.5 sovereigns of gold jewels in all the three cases, valued at Rs.9.40 lakhs. Hence, based on the complaint given, the cases have been registered for the aforesaid offences. 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and that she has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that though she has previous cases, all of them are now posted for trial and the amount involved in all the three cases has already been recovered from the house of the petitioner. He further submitted that A1 has already been released on bail. Hence, he sought the grant of bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police submitted that the investigation has been completed and the final reports have been filed before the learned Judicial Magistrate Nos.I and II, Padmanabhapuram, respectively. He further submitted that the jewels involved in the three cases were recovered from the house of the petitioner and that this Court has already directed the Trial Court to complete the trial. Hence, he objected to the grant of bail to the petitioner. 5. This Court heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed on record. 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 6. Considering the fact that this Court had directed the Trial Court to furnish the stage of the cases and that the Trial Court has reported that three cases are pending against the petitioner and has sought further 2 months time to complete the trial, and also considering the fact that the articles have already been recovered and that the petitioner has been in custody from 12.11.2025, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions. 7. Accordingly, these petitions are allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on executing 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 Court No.I, Padmanabhapuram, and on further conditions that :- [a] the petitioner 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; 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 [b] the petitioner shall report before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Padmanabhapuram, daily at 10.30 a.m. until further orders. In the event of failure, the Investigating Officer is at liberty to file an application for cancellation of bail. [c] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [d] the petitioner 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 petitioner 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]; and 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 [f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 BNS. 11.03.2026 pal To 1.The Judicial Magistrate Court No.I, Padmanabhapuram. 2.The Judicial Magistrate Court No.II, Padmanabhapuram. 3.The Officer-in-Charge, Sub-Jail, Thuckalay. 4.The Inspector of Police, Thuckalay Police Station, Kanniyakumari District. 5.The Inspector of Police, Thiruvattar Police Station, Kanniyakumari District. 6.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN ,J. pal COMMON ORDER IN CRL OP(MD)Nos.4919, 4930 and 4983 of 2026 Date : 11.03.2026 8/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis