CRL OP(MD). No.15525 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 28/07/2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR CRL OP(MD). No.15525 of 2026 Shajahan, S/o.Abdul Sadath, No.7, Alagappan Line, Kalahasteeswaran Kovil Opposite, Thenkarai, Periyakulam, Theni District -625 601. ... Petitioner/Sole Accused Vs The State of Tamilnadu Rep BY, The Inspector of Police, AWPS Police Station, Ramanathapuram District. (In Crime No.7 of 2026). ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Mr.Muthukumaran R, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.N.Balasubramanian, Counsel for State of TN (Crl.Side) PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL Under Sec.482 of BNSS PRAYER :- C-38. For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.7 of 2026 on the file of the Respondent Police. 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.15525 of 2026 ORDER : The Court made the following order :- The petitioner/Sole Accused, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences under Sections 13 and 14 of POCSO Act, 2012, in Crime No.7 of 2026, on the file of the respondent Police, seeks anticipatory bail. 2.The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner herein developed a relationship with the victim girl, aged about 17 years and started capturing her explicit images and threatened her. Hence, the present complaint has been registered. 3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that in the complaint itself, it is stated that the petitioner only started chatting with the victim girl and the same has not been misused. He further submitted that only on apprehension, the complaint was lodged. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the investigation. He further submitted that the petitioner has already appeared before the respondent police and handed over his mobile phone. Hence, he prayed for the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.15525 of 2026 4.The learned Counsel for State of TN (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the mobile phones of the victim girl and the petitioner have been recovered. The investigation in this case is still going on. Hence, he opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. However, he further submitted that the petitioner is married to another girl and he is residing separately. 5.This Court heard both sides and perused the materials available on records including the statement of the victim girl recorded under Section 183(5) of BNS. 6.Considering the circumstances of the case and the fact that it is not a case of aggravated penetrative sexual assault or penetrative sexual assault and it is a case of capturing images and also considering the specific statement of the victim girl that they were in talking terms, considering the other aspects stated in the statement of the victim girl recorded under Section 183(5) of the BNS, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions. 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.15525 of 2026 [a] Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Fast Track Mahila Court, Ramanathapuram, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate concerned and on further conditions that: [b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of three weeks and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation. [c] the petitioner shall not commit any offences of similar nature. [d] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. [e] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial. [f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.15525 of 2026 learned Judicial Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner 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]. [g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S. (K R S J) 28.07.2026 vsg TO 1.The learned Fast Track Mahila Court, Ramanathapuram. 2.The Inspector of Police, AWPS Police Station, Ramanathapuram District. 3. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.15525 of 2026 K. RAJASEKAR,J., vsg ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.15525 of 2026 Date : 28/07/2026 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis