Crl.O.P.No.17978 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 13.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Crl.O.P.No.17978 of 2026 Muthuraja ... Petitioner Vs. State of Tamil Nadu, rep.by The Inspector of Police W29, All Women Police Station, Avadi, Thiruvallur District. Crime No.not known of 2026 ... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Act, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner/accused on anticipatory bail in Crime No.Not known of 2026 on the file of the respondent- Police in the event of arrest. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Hariharan For Respondent : Mr.N.Palanivel Government Advocate (Crl.Side) O R D E R The petitioner apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Section 296(b) of BNS and Section 4 of TNPWH Act, in Crime No.Not known of 2026, seeks anticipatory bail. 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.17978 of 2026 2. Today, when the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent Police submitted that the petition enquiry is pending against the petitioner. 3. In such circumstances, this Court is of the firm view that the respondent Police may be directed to follow the ratio as laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil v. Central Bureau of Investigation reported in (2026 INSC 115) and 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1578 and the Investigating Officer has to conduct the enquiry by strictly following the procedures therein and if any prima facie case is made out against the petitioner, register the F.I.R or close the petition enquiry within a period of two weeks from today. The parties are directed to cooperate with the enquiry. It is needless to say that the respondent police shall not take any coercive steps to secure the accused till the completion of enquiry, on the complaint lodged by the defacto complainant. 4. With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of. 13.07.2026 ssb 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.17978 of 2026 To 1.The Inspector of Police W29, All Women Police Station, Avadi, Thiruvallur District. 2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.17978 of 2026 C.KUMARAPPAN.J. ssb Crl.OP.No.17978 of 2026 13.07.2026 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis