Crl.OP.No.19709 of 2026 THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 28.07.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN Crl. OP .No. 19709 of 20 26 1.Karthik 2.Ramesh Thangavelan ... Petitioners Vs. State, represented by The Inspector of Police, D-1 Police Station, Triplicane, Chennai (crime No.205 of 2026) ... Respondent Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, praying to enlarge the petitioners on bail in crime No.205 of 2024 on the file of the respondent. For Petitioners : Mr.N.R.Elango, Senior Counsel for Mr.K.J.Saravanan For Respondent : Mr.R.John Sathyan, Public Prosecutor, Assisted by Mr.Arun Anbumani, Government Advocate(crl.side) ORDER The petitioners, who were arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 02.07.2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 8 & 12 of https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.OP.No.19709 of 2026 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 & Sections 61(2)(a) & 351(3) of BNS in Crime No.205 of 2024 on the file of the respondent police, seek bail. 2. The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant received WhatsApp calls from the first accused, who offered a sum of Rs.35 crores as illegal gratification to influence his conduct in relation to the proposed no confidence motion concerning the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and also the defacto complainant was threatened with dire consequence in the event of refusal. 3. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the name of the petitioners do not find place either in the complaint or in the FIR. The entire narrative contained in the FIR is confined to the alleged acts of the first accused and only during the course of the subsequent investigation on the basis of the materials collected, the implication of the petitioners has arisen. Further, since all the material evidences have already been collected and remain in the custody of the investigation agency, there is no reasonable basis to apprehend that the petitioners, if enlarged on bail, would tamper with evidence. As such, the learned Senior Counsel prayed for grant of bail to the petitioners. Page 2 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.OP.No.19709 of 2026 4. The respondent police filed counter and the learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police submitted that during the course of investigation, the defacto complainant and other materials witnesses were examined and some electronic evidence, digital records, CCTV footage and certain other materials have been collected. The prosecution also had examined and arrested 14 accused persons. After their arrest, the accused voluntarily had given confession statements and electronic devices used in the commission of offences were also seized. Insofar as the petitioners are concerned, they are arrayed as A7 and A8. After their arrest, they were taken to police custody for interrogation. He further submitted that the petitioners actively participated in the planning and execution of the conspiracy and played a vital role in facilitating the illegal activities contemplated by the accused persons. The analysis of technical evidence disclosed that the petitioners utilised hawala money to pay for the criminal conspiracy and exchanged scanned images of Rs.100 and Rs.20 Indian currency notes through their mobile phones to indicate the receiver of hawala money to the payer. Before release of the hawala money, the recipient was required to produce the corresponding currency note bearing the matching serial number, whereupon the hawala operator release the funds. Therefore, the seventh accused actively coordinated https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.OP.No.19709 of 2026 and supervised the implementation of the verification mechanism thereby ensuring the secure transfer of the conspiracy funds among the accused persons. Further, the investigation revealed that the seventh accused entrusted a sum of Rs.80,00,000/- to the eleventh accused for safe custody and utilisation towards the execution of the conspiracy. Search was also conducted on 01.07.2026 at the residence of the eighth accused and a sum of Rs.1,03,090/- was recovered and seized under the seizure mahazar. 5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also the period of incarceration by the petitioners from the date of arrest i.e. 01.07.2026, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioners. Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail on their executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand only) (each) with two blood related sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Chennai (Special Court under Prevention of Corruption Act) and on further conditions that: [a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity. [b] the petitioners shall report before the respondent police daily at https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.OP.No.19709 of 2026 10.30 a.m. and 05.30 p.m. until further orders. [c] the petitioners shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. [d] the petitioners shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [e] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioners in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioners released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560]. [f] If the petitioners thereafter abscond, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S. 28.07.2026 lok 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. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.OP.No.19709 of 2026 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J. lok To 1.The learned Principal Sessions Judge, Chennai (Special Court under Prevention of Corruption Act) 2.The Inspector of Police, D-1 Police Station, Triplicane, Chennai 3.Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai 4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras Crl.OP.No.19709 of 2026 28.07.2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis