The State of Tamilnadu Vs Tr.N.Murugan — Corruption | Madras HC (2026)

The State of Tamilnadu Vs Tr.N.Murugan — Corruption | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No relief granted to the petitioner-State; the Criminal Revision Petition was dismissed and the connected Miscellaneous Petition (Crl.M.P(MD)No.8269 of 2026) was closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Criminal Revision Petition filed by the State against the Trial Court's discharge of the respondent (A2) from Spl.C.C.No.13 of 2023 should be allowed, i.e., whether the discharge order dated 29.09.2025 should be set aside.

Court's answer

On perusal of the materials placed on record, this Court was not inclined to interfere with the orders passed by the Trial Court discharging the respondent; accordingly, the Criminal Revision Petition was dismissed and the connected Miscellaneous Petition was closed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Revision Petition (under Section 438 r/w 442 of BNSS) by the State of Tamil Nadu (Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Tirunelveli Detachment) challenging the discharge of the respondent, N.Murugan (A2), from Spl.C.C.No.13 of 2023 on the file of the Special Judge for Exclusive Trial of PCA cases, Tirunelveli. Background: while the respondent's matter in P.R.C.No.5 of 2012 before the Judicial Magistrate, Nanguneri was posted for furnishing of copies, A1/Record Clerk received Rs.20/- from the respondent; the Judicial Magistrate complained to the Vigilance Department; Crime No.1 of 2019 was registered and the final report filed against the Record Clerk and the respondent, charging the respondent with abetting A1's crime. A1 died pending trial; the respondent, through legal aid counsel, filed a discharge petition under Section 239 of Cr.P.C., which the Trial Court allowed on 29.09.2025 (Crl.M.P.No.7 of 2025), finding no prima facie material to attract the presumption under Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The revision, admitted on 20.04.2026, proceeded with the served respondent absent and unrepresented; counsel submitted the respondent had become insane and could not be produced. Holding (B.Pugalendhi, J., 08.06.2026): on the materials placed on record the Court was not inclined to interfere with the Trial Court's orders; the Criminal Revision Petition was dismissed and the connected Crl.M.P(MD)No.8269 of 2026 closed. No precedent was cited.

Crl.R.C(MD)No.695 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

Dated : 08.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

Crl.R.C(MD)No.695 of 2026 & Crl.M.P(MD)No.8269 of 2026

State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by, The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Tirunelveli Detachment. ... Petitioner

Vs

N.Murugan ... Respondent

Prayer: Criminal Revision Petition filed under Section 438 r/w 442 of BNSS, to call for the records relating to the Crl.M.P.No.7 of 2025 in Spl.C.C.No.13 of 2023, dated 29.09.2025 on the file of the learned Special Judge for Exclusive Trial of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Tirunelveli and set aside the same.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan, counsel for State of TN

For Respondent : No appearance

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Crl.R.C(MD)No.695 of 2026

ORDER

The respondent is A2 in Spl.C.C.No.13 of 2023 on the file of the learned Special Judge for Exclusive Trial of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Tirunelveli. A1 / Record Clerk has received a sum of Rs.20/- from the respondent / A2 and hence, the respondent has been charged that he had abetted the crime committed by A1. Pending trial A1 passed away. The respondent herein filed a discharge petition before the Trial Court under Section 239 of Cr.P.C.

The Trial Court after considering the available materials, held that there are no prima facie materials as against the respondent to attract the presumption under Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and discharged the respondent from the proceedings. Aggrieved by the same, the State has preferred this Revision Petition.

This Court by order dated 20.04.2026 has admitted this Revision Petition and ordered notice to the respondent. The respondent has been served. However, there is no representation on his behalf. Therefore, this Court directed the respondent Police to secure and produce him. 2/5

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Crl.R.C(MD)No.695 of 2026

However, the learned counsel for State of TN, on instructions, submits that the respondent / A2 has now became an insane person and it is difficult to produce him before the Court.

This Court considered the materials placed before this Court.

The respondent / A2 is a litigant before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Nanguneri in P.R.C.No.5 of 2012 and the case was posted for furnishing of copies. At that time, A1 / Record Clerk, received a sum of Rs.20/- from the respondent / A2. On seeing the same, the learned Judicial Magistrate lodged a complaint before the Vigilance Department and the case has been registered by the Vigilance Department in Crime No.1 of 2019 and final report was also filed as against the Record Clerk and the respondent. Since the Record Clerk passed away pending trial, the respondent has moved the discharge application before the Trial Court through legal aid counsel and the same was allowed by the Trial Court.

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Crl.R.C(MD)No.695 of 2026

On perusal of the materials placed on record, this Court is not

inclined to interfere with the orders passed by the Trial Court. In view of the same, this Criminal Revision Petition is dismissed. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

08.06.2026

mbi

To

1.The learned Special Judge for Exclusive Trial of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Tirunelveli.

The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

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Crl.R.C(MD)No.695 of 2026

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

mbi

Crl.R.C(MD)No.695 of 2026

08.06.2026

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