CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 03-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 Naresh S/o.Muthaiah, A1/2, 14th Cross Street, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600 090. ..Petitioner(s) Vs State, represented by The Inspector of Police D-1 Police Station, Triplicane, Chennai. Crime No.205 of 2026. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Petition seeking to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No.205 of 2026 on the file of the respondent. For Petitioner(s): Mr.N.R.Elango Senior Counsel for M/s.D.Jayasekar For Respondent(s): Mr.Arun Anbumani Government Advocate (Crl. Side) ORDER The petitioner who was arrested on 30.06.2026 and remanded to judicial custody on 02.07.2026 for the offence under Sections 8 and 12 of the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 8 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 61(2)(a) & 351(3) of the B.N.S. (equivalent to Sections 120B & 506(2) IPC respectively) in Crime No.205 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. 2.It is the case of the prosecution that the petitioner along with the other accused is alleged to have offered a sum of Rs.35 Crores as illegal gratification to the defacto complainant to influence his conduct in relation to the proposed no confidence motion concerning the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assemble and further threatened him with dire consequences in the event of refusal. The petitioner is arrayed as A2. 3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. 4.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) submitted that the investigation revealed that the petitioner is one of the principal operational coordinators of the criminal conspiracy and acted as the vital link between the principal conspirators, namely, R.V.Ashok Kumar and Mr.V.Senthil Balaji, MLA, and the field level conspirators entrusted with inducing the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly belonging to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party by offering illegal gratification. During the first week of June 2026, A2 Naresh along with A7 Karthik, A8 Ramesh and https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 8 Lakshmanaperumal (absconding accused) held a secret and clandestine meeting at a liquor bar, where the larger criminal conspiracy was furthered and the assignment to make several TVK MLAs to leave the party was discussed, that each such MLA would be paid Rs.35 Crores (as illegal gratification) and that the accused who would be acting as intermediaries would be paid Rs.5 Crores each as commission. The illegal gratification proposed under the conspiracy was intended to be arranged on behalf of the accused R.V.Ashok Kumar and his brother Mr.Senthil Balaji, MLA, who was stated to be one of the principal financiers behind the conspiracy. 5.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) further submitted that the investigation further revealed that pursuant to the said criminal conspiracy, the petitioner along with A7, A8 and Lakshmanaperumal (absconding accused) held a further conspiracy meeting on 13.06.2026 at Upavihar Hotel, East Coast Road (ECR), Chennai, where they held further deliberations for implementing the conspiracy and discussed the modalities for approaching and inducing Members of the Legislative Assembly belonging to the TVK party. The petitioner played a pivotal role in the execution of the criminal conspiracy and he subsequently met A1, A9, A3, A4, A5 and A6 at a Hotel situated in Guindy, Chennai, for the purpose of implementing the conspiracy and carrying forward the illegal design. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 8 6.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) further submitted that investigation further revealed that the petitioner, in furtherance of the conspiracy, instructed his wife Neetha and his driver Krishna Mandal to deliver Rs.5 Crores in cash to Deepam Finance, Choolaimedu, Chennai, owned, controlled and managed by A13, A14 and another accused Kanagaraj for onward transmission through the illegal hawala network. Acting on the instructions of the petitioner, A13 and A14 contacted Raja @ Rengarajan, Partner of Pentagon Finance, Madurai and arranged disbursement of Rs.1,50 Crores. Thereafter, the petitioner accompanied by A9 received Rs.80 Lakhs at Pentagon Finance for the purpose of approaching Mr.Vijay Mahalingam, MLA, Usilampatti Constituency, by offering illegal gratification. CCTV footage is available clearly showing petitioner/A2 and A9 collecting such huge amounts of cash from Pentagon Finance, Madurai. Out of the said amount, Rs.2 Lakhs was paid as advance to A12. Upon failure of their attempt, the petitioner caused the balance amount of Rs.78 Lakhs to be handed over through Raja, a relative of Lakshmanaperumal (absconding accused) to Karthik Raja (absconding) for concealment and preservation for subsequent utilization in furtherance of the conspiracy. 7.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) further submitted that investigation further revealed that the petitioner, remained in constant communication with R.V.Ashok Kumar, A1, A7, A8, A9 Lakshmanaperumal https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 8 (absconding accused) and the other conspirators through WhatsApp Calls, mobile communications and personal meetings. Scientific analysis of the Call Detail Records (CDRs), tower location data and other electronic evidence has revealed that the petitioner was present with the principal conspirators at common locations on many occasions during the month of June, 2026, thereby corroborating the existence of the continuing criminal conspiracy. During the search conducted at the residence of the petitioner, a sum of Rs.13,26,800/- in cash and other incriminating materials were recovered and seized under a duly attested seizure mahazar. Further, simultaneous searches conducted during the course of investigation further resulted in the seizure of Rs.2,82,49,000/- from Deepam Finance, Choolaimedu on 17.07.2026, Rs.56,00,000/- from Pentagon Finance, Madurai on 18.07.2026 and Rs.1,68,000/- from Blue Mountain Finance, Dindigul on 18.07.2026, besides financial records, account books, hard disks, DVRs, CCTV footage and other electronic devices, thereby corroborating the systematic utilization of the illegal domestic hawala network for execution of the criminal conspiracy. 8.Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also the fact that the co accused were granted bail and anticipatory bail and considering the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 8 9.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, of whom, one should be a blood related surety, 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 condition 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 petitioner shall report before the respondent police, daily at 10.30a.m. until further orders; (c)the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; (d)the petitioner shall not abscond 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 petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page7 of 8 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]; and; (f)if the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 229-A IPC. 03-08-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No pri To 1.The Principal Session Judge, Chennai. (Special Court under Prevention of Corruption Act). 2.The Inspector of Police D-1 Police Station, Triplicane, Chennai. Crime No.205 of 2026. 3.The Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai. 4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai 600 104. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 __________ Page8 of 8 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J. pri CRL OP No. 21038 of 2026 03-08-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis