Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 07.08.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 Shradha Lenin ... Petitioner Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, EDF-II, BETA-5, Vepery, Chennai – 600 007. In Crime No.58 of 2026. ... Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail in the event of arrest in Crime No.58 of 2026 on the file of the respondent Police for the offences under Sections 420, 120-B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Ashvath Neelakandan For Respondent : Mr.N.Palanivel, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) O R D E R The petitioner apprehends arrest for the alleged offences under Sections 420, 120-B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 in Crime No.58 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police seeks anticipatory bail. 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 2.The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner dishonestly induced the de facto complainant to part with a sum of approximately Rs.2 Crores and 42 sovereigns of gold jewellery, on the pretext that she intended to marry him. Hence, the present complaint. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and she has not committed any offence as alleged by the defacto complainant and she has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that she is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and ready to co-operate with the investigation. Hence, he prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and vehemently opposed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 5. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions. 6. From the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on either side, it is seen that the allegation against the petitioner is that she developed a 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 relationship with the de facto complainant with a dishonest intention and falsely promised to marry him, thereby inducing him to part with a substantial amount of money and gold jewellery. On perusal of the First Information Report, it is seen that the petitioner and the de facto complainant were in a relationship for some time and that the alleged occurrence took place from June 2022, whereas the FIR came to be registered only in June 2026. 7. Though the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) would oppose the grant of anticipatory bail on the ground that the petitioner had cheated the de facto complainant to the tune of Rs.2 Crores, he would fairly submit that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents. Considering the above circumstances, particularly the fact that the petitioner is a woman and has no criminal antecedents, this Court is of the firm view that the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required. Hence, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions. 8. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on her appearance, within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date on which the order copy is made ready, before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate for the Exclusive Trial of CCB Cases (relating to cheating cases in Chennai) and CBCID Metro Cases, Egmore, Chennai on 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only), with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, and on further conditions: (a) If the petitioner 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 petitioner shall report before the respondent Police daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of two weeks and thereafter as and when required before the respondent police 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 in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner 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]; 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 (e) If the petitioner thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS Act. 07.08.2026 kv To 1.The Metropolitan Magistrate for the Exclusive Trial of CCB Cases (relating to cheating cases in Chennai) and CBCID Metro Cases, Egmore, Chennai. 2. The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, EDF-II, BETA-5, Vepery, Chennai – 600 007. 3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 C.KUMARAPPAN.J. kv Crl.O.P.No.21886 of 2026 07.08.2026 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis