T.Gajendran, v. The Inspector Of Police,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Thursday, the Twenty Eighth day of December Two Thousand Seventeen PRESENT The Hon`ble Mr Justice S.VAIDYANATHAN CRL OP(MD) No.18002 of 2017 T.GAJENDRAN ... PETITIONER/ACCUSED Vs THE STATE REP.BY, THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, IDOL WING CID, CHENNAI.

(CRIME NO.4 OF 2017) ... RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT For Petitioner : M/S.R.ANAND Advocate For Respondent : MR.K.ANBARASAN, Government Advocate(Crl.Side) PETITION FOR BAIL Under Sec. 439 Cr.P.C.

ORDER : The Court Made the following order :- The petitioner, who was arrested on 30.11.2017 and remanded to judicial custody on the same day for the offences punishable under Sections 457(2), 380(2), 202, 120(B) IPC r/w Section 25(1) of Antiquities and Art Treasures Act in Crime No.4 of 2017 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner, who is the Joint Commissioner of HR&CE Department of Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Pandanallur, is said to have indulged in the theft of an idol in connivance with other accused by replacing the original Manickavasagar Panchaloga Antique statue with the duplicate one, which resulted in registration of the present case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case and he is ready to abide by any conditions being imposed by this Court.

4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) has strongly objected to the grant of bail, contending that the investigation of the case is at the initial stage and if the petitioner/accused is let out on bail, there is every possibility of the accused tampering the witnesses/evidences and hampering the investigation. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

5. Taking into consideration the serious nature of the allegations levelled against this petitioner and the fact that the investigation of the case is in midway, this Court is not inclined to grant the relief as prayed for by the petitioner.

6. In the result, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed accordingly.

sd/- 28/12/2017 / TRUE COPY / Sub-Assistant Registrar (C.S.) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai - 625 023.

TO 1 THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, IDOL WING CID, CHENNAI.

2 THE SUPERINTENDENT, CENTRAL PRISON, TRICHY.

3 THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI +1. CC to M/S.R.ANAND Advocate SR.No.19

ORDER

IN CRL OP(MD) No.18002 of 2017 Date :28/12/2017 PK/RR/SAR-1/03.01.2018 : 2P/5C https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/