CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 06-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 1. Natrajan 2. Sankaranarayanan 3. Selvaraj @ selvarasu ..Petitioners Vs The State rep.by The Inspector of Police, Sethiathope P.S, Cuddalore district. Cr.No.125 of 2026. ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Act, 2023, to enlarge the petitioners on bail in the event of arrest in Cr.no.125 of 2026 on the file of respondent police. For Petitioners: Mr.Ragul Kousik For Respondent: Ms.R.S.Indira Govt Advocate (Crl.Side) ORDER The petitioners apprehend arrest for the alleged offence under Sections 329(3), 221, 351(2), 353(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 in Crime No.125 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police seeks anticipatory bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 6 2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioners, entered into the Aavin milk dairy factory which was under the control of Government of Tamil Nadu, with the help of News Tamizh 24*7 Media, with an intention to defame them with false allegation and therefore, a quarrel arose. Hence, the case. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are innocent and they have not committed any offence as alleged by the defacto complainant and they have been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that they are ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and ready to co-operate with the investigation. Hence, he prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that no previous case is pending against 3rd petitioner whereas the other two petitioners have criminal antecedents. She further submitted that the 1st petitioner has got one previous case of similar in nature in Crime No.152 of 2024. She also submits that investigation in this case is pending. Hence, she opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners. 5. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions and perused the materials available on record. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 6 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, taking note of the submissions made by the learned counsel on both sides, considering the totality of the circumstances and upon the fact that the petitioners 1 and 2 have previous criminal antecedents, this Court is of the firm view that it is not desirable to enlarge the 1st and 2nd petitioners on anticipatory bail. However, considering the fact that there is no previous case pending against the 3rd petitioner, this Court is of the view that custodial interrogation of 3rd petitioner is not required. Hence, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to 3rd petitioner alone, subject to certain conditions. 7. Accordingly, the 3rd petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate-I, Cuddalore, on condition that the 3rd petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only), with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on further conditions: (a) If the 3rd petitioner fails to surrender before the concerned learned Magistrate within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, this order shall stand automatically cancelled; https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 6 (b) 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 identify proofs to ensure their identity; (c) The 3rd petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, everyday at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation; (d) On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate actions against the 3rd petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the 3rd petitioner released on anticipatory bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji v. State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560]; (e) If the 3rd petitioner thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act. 8. 8. In the result, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed in sofar as the 3rd petitioner is concerned and dismissed insofar as the 1st and 2nd petitioners are concerned. 06-07-2026 NR https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 6 To: 1. The Judicial Magistrate I, Cuddalore 2. The Inspector of Police, Sethiathope P.S, Cuddalore district. 3. The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 6 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NR CRL OP No. 17045 of 2026 06-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis