CRL OP No. 19563 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 22-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 19563 of 2026 Sunilkumar ..Petitioner Vs State Rep. by, The Inspector of Police, Katpadi Police Station, Vellore District. ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the Petitioner / A-5 on regular bail in Crime No.122 of 2026, pending investigation, as this Court. For Petitioner: Mr.R.Naresh Kumar For Respondent: Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu (Criminal Side) ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 24.05.2026 for the alleged offences under Section 194 of BNSS and Sections 191(2), 191(3), 103(1) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in Crime No.122 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. 2. The case of the prosecution is that an unidentified male was found dead on Agraharam Mariamman Kovil Street, Katpadi, near Bhavatharani's house. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19563 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 5 During the course of the investigation, the deceased was identified as Shankar Bhoi, a native of West Bengal. Subsequently, based on the extra-judicial confession made by the petitioner (A1) before the Village Administrative Officer (VAO), it came to light that the petitioner, along with other co-accused, suspected the deceased of being a thief and assaulted him, inflicting fatal injuries. Hence, the present case was registered. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 24.05.2026 and is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. It is further submitted that the co-accused has already been enlarged on bail Crl.O.P.No.17383 of 2026 dated 15.07.2026. Hence, he prayed for the grant of bail. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent, while opposing the grant of bail to the petitioner, reiterated the prosecution case and, on instructions, submitted that the petitioner has no bad antecedents. 5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19563 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 5 6. Considering the submission of the learned counsel on either side, it is seen that the petitioner, along with other co-accused, suspected the deceased of being a thief and assaulted him, inflicting fatal injuries. Further, taking into consideration the fact that co-accused have already been released on bail in Crl.O.P.No.17383 of 2026 dated 15.07.2026 and the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner since 24.05.2026, this Court is inclined to extent parity to the petitioner and enlarge him on bail, subject to certain conditions. 7. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand only), with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court, Katpadi, Vellore and subject to the following conditions: [a] 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 the identity proofs to ensure their identity; [b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m. until further orders; [c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19563 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 5 [e] on breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions had been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court itself, as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)13 SCC 283]; [f] if the petitioner thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR may be registered under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 22-07-2026 NSL Note: 1. Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court. 2. All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code. To 1. The Judicial Magistrate Court, Katpadi, Vellore. 2. The Central Prison, Vellore. 3. The Inspector of Police, Katpadi Police Station, Vellore District. 4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19563 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 5 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NSL CRL OP No. 19563 of 2026 22-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis