CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Date : 19/02/2026 PRESENT The HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 R.Rathi ... Petitioner/Accused Vs State of Tamilnadu Rep by, The Sub Inspector of Police, City Crime Branch Police Station, Madurai District. Crime No.72/2025. ... Respondent/Complainant For Petitioner : Rajkumar P, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.S.S.Manoj, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) PRAYER :- C-24AB. For Anticipatory Bail in Crime No.72 of 2025 on the file of the Respondent Police. ORDER : The Court made the following order :- 1/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 354, 351(2) and 49 of BNS 2023, in Crime No.72 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail. 2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner along with other accused persons have cheated the defacto complainant to the tune of Rs. 41,27,616/-. Hence, the complaint. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offences as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that the petitioner is ready and willing to abide by any conditions which may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he seeks anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 4. The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) opposed for grant of anticipatory bail to the 2/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 petitioner. 5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions. 6.Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Madurai, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy is made ready and on further conditions that: [a]the petitioner and the sureties shall affix their photographs and left thumb impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity; 3/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 [b] the petitioner is directed to deposit a sum of Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty thousand only) to the credit of crime number before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Madurai. On such deposit being made, the learned Magistrate shall accept the sureties furnished by the petitioner.After receipt of the amount, the learned Magistrate shall deposit the said amount in an interest bearing Fixed Deposit in any nationalized Bank initially for a period of one year and renew them periodically until the final order/Judgment is passed. The learned Judicial Magistrate or Trial Court shall pass orders regarding entitlement of the said amount in its final order/Judgment; [c] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police daily at 10.30 a.m, until further orders; 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 [d]the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [e]the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial; [f]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 is 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]; [g]If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of BNS. 19.02.2026 PJL 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 TO 1. Judicial Magistrate No.I, Madurai. 2.The Sub Inspector of Police, City Crime Branch Police Station, Madurai District. 3. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 6/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP(MD). No.3582 of 2026 S.SRIMATHY,J PJL ORDER IN CRL OP(MD) No.3582 of 2026 Date : 19/02/2026 7/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis