Crl.O.P.No.17672 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 09.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Crl.O.P.No.17672 of 2026 Murugesan ... Petitioner(s) Vs. The State rep. by The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Nagapattinam Nagapattinam District. ... Respondent(s) Crime No.7 of 2026 PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.7 of 2026 pending investigation on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner(s) : Mr.T.Gokulakrishnan For Respondent(s) : Mr.S.Yogaraj Sekar, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 07.02.2026 for the alleged offences under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in Crime No.7 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.17672 of 2026 2. It is the case of the prosecution that the petitioner subjected the victim child to sexual harassment, as defined under Section 11 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Hence, the case. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the allegations levelled against the petitioner are false and that the petitioner has been in custody since 07.02.2026. He would further submit that, in any event, his further custody is not required for the purpose of investigation. 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 the victim is a differently abled person and that the investigation is still pending. He has also produced a copy of the statement of the victim girl recorded under Section 183 of the BNSS. 5. Considering the seriousness of the allegations levelled against the petitioner, the submission of the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) that the investigation is still pending, and having regard to the nature of the offences alleged, this Court is of the view that, if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, it 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.17672 of 2026 would create a sense of fear and insecurity in the mind of the victim. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage. 6. Accordingly, the Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 09.07.2026 skr To 1. The learned Mahila Court, Nagapattinam 2. The Superintendent, District Jail, Nagapattinam 3. The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Nagapattinam 4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.17672 of 2026 C.KUMARAPPAN,J. skr Crl.O.P.No.17672 of 2026 09.07.2026 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis