CRL OP No. 19869 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 24-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 19869 of 2026 Karthik ..Petitioner Vs State Rep By, the Inspector of Police All Women Police Station, Manargudi, Thiruvarur District. Crime No.23 of 2025. ..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.23 of 2025 pending on the file of the Respondent. For Petitioner: Mr.P.Muthamizhselvakumar 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 18.07.2025 for the alleged offences under Sections 5(1), 5(J)(II), 5(N) r/w Section 6 of the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012 in Crime No.23 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19869 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 4 2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner who is the paternal uncle of the victim girl, had committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on the victim girl, which resulted in pregnancy. Hence the case. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 18.07.2025 and is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and ready to co- operate with the investigation. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the victim girl is aged about only 13 years and the petitioner is aged about 30 years; and the petitioner has committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault to the victim girl and opposed for grant of bail to the petitioner. 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. 19869 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 4 6. Considering the submissions of the learned counsel on either side, the fact that the petitioner is aged about 30 years while the victim is 13 years of age, and furthermore that the DNA paternity test of the victim's child matches the petitioner, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail. 7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 24-07-2026 NSL To 1. The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Manargudi, Thiruvarur District. 2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19869 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 4 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. NSL CRL OP No. 19869 of 2026 24-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis