High Court · 2025

Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J. This matter is posted today before this Court under the caption 'For Being Mentioned' at the instance of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner. 2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that this Court, by an order dated 25.07.2025, has granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner in Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025. However in the order copy, the conditoin has been mentioned as "petitioner shall report before the respondent Police daily until further orders; instead of Petitioner shall report before the respondent Police daily at 10.30 a.m. until further orders, and the same requires to be rectified. Hence, he prayed for suitable directions.3. Registry is directed to carry out the necessary correction and issue order copy afresh. Further, two weeks time is granted to the petitioner to comply with the conditions.01.08.2025epPage 1 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025M.NIRMAL KUMAR,J.ep Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 202501.08.2025Page 2 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 25.07.2025CORAM THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025R.Sriganth... PetitionerVs.State Rep. by,Station House Officer,Vigilance and Anti Corruption Police Station,Puducherry.Crime No.10 of 2025 ... RespondentPRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in connection with Crime No. 10 of 2025 on the file of respondent Police.For Petitioner:M/s.Mr.R.Johnsathyan for Mr.I.PeriaswamyFor Respondent:Mr.M.V.Ramachandra MurthyAdditional Public ProsecutorO R D E RPage 3 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent police for the offences punishable under Sections 12, 13(1) (b) & 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act in Crime No.10 of 2025, on the file of the respondent Police, seeks anticipatory bail.2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner was working as Sub Registrar on deputation seems to have been obtained bribe of Rs.10,000/- in the form of Translation charges and on 16.10.2024 it is alleged that the co-accused one Baskar has aided to receive Rs.10,000/- and on 17.10.2024 he had obtained Rs.10,000/- as bribe in the restroom of the office premises which was captured in a video and was circulated on social media. Hence the case.3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submitted that the petitioner is ready to abide by any stringent condition that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prayed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Page 4 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 20254. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that on 17.10.2024, the petitioner had obtained Rs.10,000/- as bribe in the restroom of his office premises. Further, one M.Baskaran, the then Sub-Registrar (Marriage) also abetted the offence by way of receiving bribe of Rs.10,000/- and kept the cash in the table drawer of dispatch room on 16.10.2024. Further, the said Baskaran, was assigned to perform the duty of Sub-Registrar (Marriage) and he has to perform the process of registration of Marriages only. However, he is no way connected with the registration of settlement deed. These acts, came into light pursuant to the video of the petitioner obtaining cash of Rs.10,000/- from one Ashok under the pretext of translation charges was circulated in social media. Based on the confession of said Ashok, the present case has been registered. At present the petitioner has been suspended from service. Hence, he opposed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.Page 5 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 20256. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on either sides and taking note of the nature of the allegations and since, the petitioner has been suspended and custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.7. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Principal District Judge (Special Court under Prevention of Corruption Act) Puducherry 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 respondent police or the police officer who intends to arrest or to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further condition that:[a] if the petitioner fails to surrender before the said Magistrate within a period of fifteen days, this Order Page 6 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025shall 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 the identity proofs to ensure their identity;[c] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police daily until further orders;[d] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial and he shall make himself available for interrogation by a Police Officer as and when required;[e] the petitioner shall not directly or indirectly cause any threat to the de facto complainant and witnesses and shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;;[f] the petitioner to give an undertaking that if required for being identified by witnesses during investigation or for police custody beyond the first fifteen days, he shall comply to the directions as may be given by the Court in this regard; [g] On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled Page 7 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025to 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];[h] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S.25.07.2025rapTo1.The Principal District Judge (Special Court under Prevention of Corruption Act) Puducherry 2.The Station House Officer, Vigilance and Anti Corruption Police Station, Puducherry.3.The Public Prosecutor,High Court of Madras.Page 8 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.rap Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 202525.07.2025Page 9 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.21084 of 2025Page 10 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL MP No. 12800 of 2025