CRL OP No. 23262 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 20-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.RAMESH CRL OP No. 23262 of 2026 Murugesh S/o.Dharmaiah, C.J.F.S.Colony Ragimanabenda Post, Bangaraupalayam Taluk, Chittor District. Andhra Pradesh. ..Petitioner(s) Vs The State Rep by The Forest Range Officer Katapadi Range vellore District, Tamil Nadu. WLOR No.04 of 2026. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in connection with WLOR No.04 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police and pass such order or further order as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case For Petitioner(s): M/s. D.Padmanabhan For Respondent(s): Mr.M.M.I.Khaleel, Govt.Advocate (Crl.Side) ORDER The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 09.07.2026 for the alleged offence under Sections 2(2), 2(11), 2(14), 2(30), 2(31), 2(32), 39, 44, 49-B, 50 and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in Crime No.04 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 23262 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 5 2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner, along with other accused was found in illegal possession of two elephant tusks. Hence, the case has been registered against the petitioner. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that the petitioner has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody since 09.07.2026. He further submitted that the co-accused/A2 and A3 have already been enlarged on bail by this Court in Crl.OP.Nos.21106 and 21976 of 2026 dated 04.08.2026 and 10.08.2026. He further submitted that the petitioner is ready to abide by any stringent conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prays for grant of bail to the petitioner. 4. Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the Respondent Police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that the two elephant tusks were recovered from the accused persons. He further submitted that the specific allegation against the petitioner is that the elephant tusks was purchased from A1. He further submitted that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents.Hence, he strongly opposed to grant of bail to the petitioner. 5. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions and https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 23262 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 5 perused the materials available on record. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the fact that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents, the further fact that the co-accused/A2 and A3 have already been released on bail and considering the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner since 09.07.2026, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions. 7. 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 each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate Court, K.V.Kuppam, Vellore District, and on further conditions that: [a] 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 the identity proofs to ensure their identity; [b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders; [c] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 23262 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 5 [e] On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned 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)13 SCC 283]; [f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S. 20-08-2026 DRL Note: 1. Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court. 2. All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code. To 1.The District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate, K.V.Kuppam, Vellore District. 2. The Forest Range Officer Katapadi Range vellore District, Tamil Nadu. 3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Vellore. 4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 23262 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 5 N.RAMESH, J. DRL CRL OP No. 23262 of 2026 20-08-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis