CRL OP(MD). No.10919 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 29/06/2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR CRL OP(MD). No.10919 of 2026 Praveenkumar ... Petitioner/Accused No.4 Vs The State Rep. By, The Inspector of Police, IWCID-Thanjavur Range, Thanjavur District. Crime No. 2/2026. ... Respondent/Complainant PRAYER :- For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No. 2 of 2026 on the file of the respondent Police. For Petitioner : Mr. S.Kasirajan, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr. I.Murugesan, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) ORDER The petitioner apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.10919 of 2026 Sections 305(d) of BNS Act, 2023, 35(1)(e) and 106(1) of BNSS, 2023, in Crime No.2 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police seeks anticipatory bail. 2. The allegation against the petitioner is that on 06.02.2026, on secret information, the respondent police intercepted a vehicle bearing Reg. No. TN-43-Q-5896 on the National Highway connecting Thanjavur to Chennai, and on search, they found that the petitioner and other accused were involved in illegally smuggling antique sculptures. Hence, the case. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and he has not committed any such offence as alleged by the prosecution and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that this is the third anticipatory bail petition and earlier petitions filed by the petitioner was dismissed by this Court. He further submitted that since all the co-accused were already released on bail, he prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police, submitted that this is the third anticipatory bail 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.10919 of 2026 petition and there is no change of circumstance in this petition. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 5. Heard both sides and perused the material available on records. 6. It is a case of idol theft, and this Court dismissed the petitions filed by the petitioner twice on merits by discussing the issues elaborately, and recently, it was dismissed on 07.05.2026, and without any change of circumstance, the present petition has been filed by the petitioner. The submission raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner is that all the co-accused were released on bail except the petitioner. However, perusal of the bail orders of the co-accused reveal that those orders have been passed prior to the dismissal of the anticipatory bail petitions filed by the petitioner. Since there is no change of circumstances, the present petition filed by the petitioner is not sustainable. 7.Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.10919 of 2026 29.06.2026 dss To 1.The ACJM, Kumbakonam. 2.The Inspector of Police, IWCID-Thanjavur Range, Thanjavur District. 3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.10919 of 2026 K. RAJASEKAR,J DSS ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.10919 of 2026 Date : 29/06/2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis