CRL OP No. 19656 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 23-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 19656 of 2026 Sathiyaraj ..Petitioner Vs State represented by The Inspector of Police Vettavalam Police Station, Tiruvannamalai District. Crime No.762 of 2018 ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.762 of 2018 on the file of the respondent police, now pending as Spl.S.C.No.10 of 2021 before the Sessions Court, Special Court for Exclusive Trial of POCSO Cases, Tiruvannamalai. For Petitioner: Mr.V.Sunitha 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 18.05.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 363, 366 and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 5(1) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 in Crime No. 762 of 2018 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19656 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 4 2. The case of the prosecution is that Spl.S.C.No. 10 of 2021 was pending before the Sessions Court (Special Court for Exclusive Trial of POCSO Cases), Tiruvannamalai. Owing to the absence of the petitioner/accused, a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was issued against him on 22.11.2022. In pursuance of the same, he was arrested on 18.05.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that NBW was issued on 22.11.2022 and the petitioner was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 18.05.2026 and he has been in incarceration since then. It is further submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. The learned counsel would submit that the petitioner belongs to a respectable family and he will not abscond or tamper with witnesses. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution's case and submitted that the trial is in an advanced stage. 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. 19656 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 4 6. Considering the submissions of the learned counsel on either side, this Court is of the view that the petitioner had absconded for more than four years. Though a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was issued against him on 22.11.2022, he was secured only on 18.05.2026. In view of these circumstances and considering that the trial is now at an advanced stage, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail. 7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 23-07-2026 NSL To 1. The Inspector of Police, Vettavalam Police Station, Tiruvannamalai District. 2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19656 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 4 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NSL CRL OP No. 19656 of 2026 23-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis