CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 22-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 1. Raji 2. Sasikumar ..Petitioner(s) Vs The State Rep by Station House Officer Veppur Police Station, Cuddalore District. Crime No.219 of 2026. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioners on anticipatory bail in the event of arrest concern in Crime No.219 of 2026 on the file of station House Officer, Veppur Police Station, Cuddalore District, on such terms and conditions and as this Honble Court may deem fit and proper and thus render Justice. For Petitioner(s): M/S. M.Sivakumar For Respondent(s): MR.N.PALANIVEL, GOVT.ADVOCATE (CRL.SIDE) ORDER The petitioners, who apprehend arrest for the alleged offence under Sections 303(2), 317(2), 287, 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 6 2023 and Section 3(6) of the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order 2005, Section 7(1) (a) (ii) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Section 23 of the Petroleum Act, 1934, in Crime No.219 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail. 2. The case of the prosecution is that on 27.06.2025, while the respondent police were patrolling near the Ivathukudi Bus Stop on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway, they spotted A1 and intercepted 100 litres of diesel from his shed. Upon enquiry, A1 confessed to illegally siphoning petrol and diesel from various lorries in collusion with their drivers for resale at a lower price, without the knowledge of the respective lorry owners. Based on the confession of A1, the other accused were implicated in this case. The respondent police subsequently conducted searches at the sheds of the other accused persons and seized a total of 1,635 litres of diesel and 25 litres of petrol from their possession. Hence, the case. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that there are a total of eight accused in this case, wherein the petitioners are arrayed as A7 and A8, and there is no specific overtact attributed to them in the FIR. He further submitted that the petitioners were neither involved in siphoning diesel from any lorry nor did they play any role in the alleged theft. Hence, he prayed for https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 6 the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners. 4.The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution's case and submitted that the first petitioner has one previous case against him. Looking into the factual position, the occurrence took place on 27.06.2025, and the allegation against the petitioners is that they used to collect small quantities of petrol from different lorries in collusion with the drivers and store it illegally. The alleged recovery from the possession of the petitioners is 1,250 litres of diesel and 525 litres of petrol. 5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and noting that the custodial interrogation of the petitioners is not required, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioners on anticipatory bail, subject to certain conditions: 6. Accordingly, the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on their appearance, within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate Court No.I, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore District, on condition that the petitioners shall execute a separate bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) each, with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on further conditions: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 6 (a) If the petitioner(s) fails to surrender before the concerned learned Magistrate within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, this order shall stand automatically cancelled; (b) 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 identify proofs to ensure their identity; (c) the petitioners shall report before the respondent Police everyday at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation; (d) On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate actions against the petitioner(s) in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner(s) released on anticipatory bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji v. State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560]; (e) If the petitioner(s) thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act. 22-07-2026 GBI https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 6 To 1.The State Rep by Station House Officer Veppur Police Station, Cuddalore District. Crime No.219 of 2026. 2.The Judicial Magistrate Court No.I, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore District. 3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 6 C.KUMARAPPAN, J. GBI CRL OP No. 19520 of 2026 22-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis