CRL MP(MD). No.16375 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 11.08.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE P. MURUGAN CRL MP(MD). No.16375 of 2026 in Crl.OP(MD)No.6766 of 2025 The State of Tamilnadu Rep By The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti Corruption, Ramanathapuram District. Crime No.2 of 2022 ... Petitioner / Investigation Officer Vs. 1. Shnamugavel, 2. Pandi, ... Respondents / Petitioners 1 & 2 3. Rajeswari, ... 3rd Respondent/2nd Respondent PRAYER :- This Petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C / 528 BNSS, to extend the time for a further period of six months to complete the investigation and to file a Final Report / Charge Sheet as per the directions given by this Court, Madurai by its order dated 29.04.2025 made in Crl.O.P(MD)No.6766 of 2025 in Crl.M.P.(MD)No.4952 of 2025. For Petitioner : M/s.V.Moushica Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL MP(MD). No.16375 of 2026 ORDER This petition has been filed by the Investigating Officer seeking extension of time for a further period of six months to file the final report, as per the order passed by this Court in Crl.O.P.(MD) No.6766 of 2025 in Crl.M.P.(MD) No.4952 of 2025, dated 29.04.2025. 2. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) submitted that, by an order dated 29.04.2025 passed in Crl.O.P.(MD) No. 6766 of 2025, this Court had directed the Investigating Officer to expedite the investigation and file the final report within a period of three months. 3. As submitted by the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), the investigation has been substantially completed, and the matter has been placed before the competent authority for obtaining sanction for prosecution against all the accused. There are eight accused in the present case. Sanction for prosecution has already been granted in respect of Accused Nos. 3 to 6 and 8. As regards Accused Nos. 1, 2 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL MP(MD). No.16375 of 2026 and 7, the sanction for prosecution can be accorded only by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, and the proposal in this regard is presently pending consideration before the Government. 4. Further, it is submitted by the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) that the Investigating Agency had submitted the file to the Chief Secretary as early as in October 2025, and thereafter, a reminder was sent on 11.03.2026. She further submitted that, owing to the change in the Government, the file has been kept pending. Hence, she sought a period of six months to expedite the process of obtaining sanction and to file the final report before the competent Court. 5. Taking note of the subsequent developments and the submission made by the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) that a further period of six months is required for obtaining the sanction for prosecution, this is inclined to grant period of only three months. Accordingly, three months time is granted. 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL MP(MD). No.16375 of 2026 6. The prosecution is directed to send a reminder to the Chief Secretary, enclosing a copy of this order, and the Chief Secretary is directed to expedite the process of granting sanction for prosecution, the proposal having already been submitted, uninfluenced by any of the observations made in this order. 7. This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition is disposed of 11.08.2026 LS Copy to: The Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, Saint Fort George, Chennai -9. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL MP(MD). No.16375 of 2026 DR. P. MURUGAN,J. LS CRL MP(MD) No.16375 of 2026 in Crl.OP(MD)No6766 of 2025 11.08.2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis