CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 28-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 Ranjithkumar ..Petitioner Vs State represented by, Inspector of Police, Mettupalayam Police Station, Puducherry District. Crime No.47 of 2026 ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail pending investigation in Crime No.47 of 2026 on the file of the Respondent. For Petitioner: Mr.T.Balaji For Respondent: Mrs.G.Djearany Omprakash Government Advocate Government of Puducherry ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 30.04.2026 for the alleged offences under 10 of POCSO Act, 2012 in Crime No.47 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. 2. The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant, one Thilagavathi, was divorced from her first husband in the year 2019, with whom she has a daughter named Janisha. Subsequently, the defacto complainant https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 6 married the accused. On April 29, 2026, at around 5:30 a.m, the minor daughter woke up crying with pain and redness in her private parts. The child informed the defacto complainant that the petitioner had inserted his finger into her private parts and threatened her not to disclose the incident. Hence, the case was registered against the petitioner. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 30.04.2026 and is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner also invites the attention of this Court to the FIR, which discloses a monetary dispute between the husband and wife. He contends that the present complaint came to be registered through the minor victim only due to this monetary dispute. Hence, he prays for the grant of bail to the petitioner. 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 statement of the victim under section 183 of BNSS has been recorded. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 6 5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side. 6. On perusing the statement recorded under Section 183 of the BNSS, though there is an allegation of penetrative sexual assault, it is vague and indicative in nature. A perusal of the FIR also reveals that there are certain allegations regarding a monetary dispute as well as previous enmity between the petitioner and the defacto complainant. In such view of the circumstances and considering the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner since 30.04.2026 and the absence of any criminal antecedents, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner 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 Fast Track POCSO Court, Puducherry 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; https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 6 [b] the petitioner is directed to stay at Virudhunagar District and report before the Srivilliputhur Town Police Station, Virudhunagar, 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; [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. 28-07-2026 NSL https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 6 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 Fast Track POCSO Court, Puducherry. 2. Central Prison, Puducherry. 3. The Inspector of Police, Mettupalayam Police Station, Puducherry District. 4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 6 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NSL CRL OP No. 20217 of 2026 28-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis