CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 7 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 03-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 Sethuraj S/o.Sellamuthu Gounder, No.159, S.V.Nillayam, 1st J Main 3rd D Cross, Kasthuri Nagar, Banglore-560043. ..Petitioner(s) Vs The State Represented by the Inspector of Police D-1 Triplicane Police Station, 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 police. 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 09.07.2026 and remanded to judicial custody on 10.07.2026 for the offence under Sections 8 and 12 of the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 7 Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 61 (2) (a) and 351 (3) of the BNS 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 A10. 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 knowingly associated himself with A7 Karthik, A8 Ramesh Kumar, A11 Dr.Rajasekar, Mr.V.Senthil Balaji, MLA, R.V.Ashok Kumar and other accused persons in furtherance of a well planned criminal conspiracy to induce elected members of the Legislative Assembly belonging to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party by offering illegal gratification to influence the discharge of their official functions and voting in the Legislative Assembly and also to leave the party. Being a trusted associate of the principal conspirators and an experienced hawala operator, the petitioner https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 7 willingly agreed to receive, retain, transfer and facilitate the movement of the conspiracy funds through hawala channels for implementation of the illegal scheme. 5.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) further submitted that the investigation further revealed that pursuant to the said criminal conspiracy and acting on the instructions of A7, the petitioner adopted a coded currency note verification mechanism by verifying the serial numbers of Rs.100, Rs.20 and Rs.10 currency notes communicated through the FaceTime and WhatsApp applications. Pursuant to the said coded verification process, the petitioner received a sum of Rs.20 Lakhs from A11 on 27.06.2026 and retained the same for further deployment towards payment of illegal gratification. The petitioner was habitually engaged in receiving, retaining and routing unaccounted cash belonging to the principal conspirators through hawala transactions by utilizing his finance business and recreation club establishments. 6.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) further submitted that during the search conducted at the petitioner’s residence at Bengaluru on 08.07.2026, a sum of Rs.16,41,000/- suspected to be part of the conspiracy funds was recovered and seized under a duly attested seizure mahazar. The petitioner failed to furnish satisfactory explanation regarding the lawful source and possession of the said amount. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 7 7.The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) further submitted that during the period of police custody, the petitioner voluntarily made a subsequent confession statement disclosing his long standing financial dealings with A7 Karthik, A8 Ramesh Kumar, Mr.V.Senthil Balaji and R.V.Ashok Kumar. The investigation has independently established his active role through the recovery of Rs.16,41,000/- effected from his residence, search and seizure mahazars, voluntary disclosures, Call Detail Records (CDRs), WhatsApp and FaceTime communications, electronic and digital evidence, witness statements, financial records and other oral, documentary and scientific evidence collected during the course of investigation. The materials collected thus far clearly establish that the petitioner knowingly acted as a trusted hawala operator and facilitator of the conspiracy funds, actively assisted in their receipt, retention, transfer and concealment and thereby played a vital role in implementing 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. 9.Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 7 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 District and 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 released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 7 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 District and Sessions Judge, Chennai. (Special Court under Prevention of Corruption Act). 2.The Inspector of Police D-1 Triplicane Police Station, 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. 21009 of 2026 __________ Page7 of 7 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J. pri CRL OP No. 21009 of 2026 03-08-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis