Crl.O.P.Nos.16715 & 16786 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 02.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Crl.O.P.Nos.16715 & 16786 of 2026 Crl.OP.No.16715 of 2026 S.Rajini ... Petitioner Vs. The State rep. by the Inspector of Police, CCW Ashok Nagar Police Station, Chennai. ... Respondent(s) Crime No.47 of 2026 PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.47 of 2026 pending investigation on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner(s) : Mr.E.Raj Thilak for Mr.R.Parthiban For Respondent(s) : Mr.Arun Anbumani (Crl.Side) Crl.OP.No.16715 of 2026 Jayaprakash ... Petitioner Vs. The State rep. by the State Cyber Crime Investigation Centre, Cuber Crime Wing Hqrs, Chennai ... Respondent(s) Crime No.47 of 2026 PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.47 of 2026 pending investigation on the file of the respondent police. 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.Nos.16715 & 16786 of 2026 For Petitioner(s) : Mr.R.Thamarai Selvan For Respondent(s) : Mr.Arun Anbumani (Crl.Side) ORDER The petitioner in Crl.OP.No.16715 of 2026 and the petitioner in Crl.OP.No.16786 of 2026, who were arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 15.04.2026 and 04.06.2026 respectively for the alleged offences under Sections 306, 316(2) r/w 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 43, 66, 66B, 66C r/w Section 84B of IT Act and Sections 51, 63(a), 65, 65A and 65B of the Copyright Act and Section 6AB r/w Section 7(1A) of Cinematograph Act in Crime No.47 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. 2. It is the case of the prosecution that the petitioners, along with the other accused, illegally released a movie even before its official theatrical release by merging the leaked portions into a full-length film and uploading the same on websites such as Tamilrockers and other online platforms. Hence, the case. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are innocent and have been falsely implicated in this case. According to him, the petitioners have merely watched the movie and have no 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.Nos.16715 & 16786 of 2026 connection with its illegal release. He would further submit that the co-accused have already been enlarged on statutory bail and, on the ground of parity, the petitioners are also entitled to be enlarged on bail. Hence, he prayed for the grant of bail. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police, while opposing the grant of bail, reiterated the prosecution case and, on instructions, submitted that Accused Nos.13 and 21 are still absconding. He further submitted that the investigation has revealed that the fourth accused played a crucial role in merging the various portions of the leaked movie into a complete film and thereafter facilitating its circulation through websites such as Tamilrockers and other social media platforms. According to him, the involvement of the fourth accused is not merely passive in nature and the contention that he had merely viewed the movie is factually incorrect. He further submitted that nearly 1.20 crore persons have watched the illegally circulated version of the movie. It was also submitted that though certain co-accused were enlarged on statutory bail, the respondent has already preferred an appeal challenging the said order and the same is pending consideration. He would further submit that, in view of the fact that Accused Nos.13 and 21 are absconding, if the petitioners are enlarged on bail, there is 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.Nos.16715 & 16786 of 2026 every possibility of their absconding, thereby making it difficult to secure their presence for the purpose of investigation and trial. 5. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made on either side and perused the materials available on record. 6. Considering the above facts and circumstances, particularly the fact that the appeal challenging the grant of statutory bail to the co-accused is pending, the involvement of the petitioners in merging the leaked portions of the movie into a full-length film and uploading the same on websites such as Tamilrockers and other online platforms, resulting in nearly 1.20 crore persons watching the illegally circulated version, this Court is of the view that the role attributed to the petitioners is serious in nature. Further, considering the submission of the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) that Accused Nos.13 and 21 are still absconding and that there is every possibility of the petitioners absconding or tampering with the witnesses if enlarged on bail, this Court finds no reason to grant bail to the petitioners at this stage. Accordingly, these Criminal Original Petitions are dismissed. 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.Nos.16715 & 16786 of 2026 7. Accordingly, these Criminal Original Petitions are dismissed. 02.07.2026 skr To 1. The learned XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Chennai 2. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Puzhal 3. The Inspector of Police, CCW Ashok Nagar Police Station, Chennai. 4. The Inspector of Police, State Cyber Crime Investigation Centre, Cyber Crime Wing Hqrs, Chennai 5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.Nos.16715 & 16786 of 2026 C.KUMARAPPAN,J. skr Crl.O.P.Nos. 16715 & 16786 of 2026 02.07.2026 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis