Dismissed¶42

Arul @ Arul Kumar v. The State of Tamilnadu

Madras HC22 Jun 2026CRL A(MD)/595/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Bail refusal; habitual offender; 14 prior criminal cases tabulated; absconding co-accused; non-bailable warrant pending; defacto complainant opposition; custody exceeding 380 days; Section 14A(2) SC/ST Act appeal against dismissal of bail petition; BNS Sections 191(2), 191(3), 296(b), 351(3), 127(2), 103, 118(1), 303(2); SC/ST (POA) Act Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va); Crime No.152/2025 Nadukaveri Police Station; Crl.M.P.No.310/2026 Principal Special Court POCSO Thanjavur; liberty to renew appeal after framing of charges; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; B.PUGALENDHI, J.; decided 22.06.2026.

What did the court decide?

Liberty to renew the appeal after framing of charges ¶42

Arul @ Arul Kumar Vs The State of Tamilnadu — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Madras HC (2026)

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CRL A(MD). No.595 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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Dated : 22.06.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

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CRL A(MD)No.595 of 2026

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Arul @ Arul Kumar ... Appellant Vs.

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The State of Tamilnadu, Rep by The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thiruvaiyaru Sub Division, Thanjavur District.

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The Inspector of Police, Nadukaveri Police Station, Thanjavur District. (Crime No.152/2025)

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V.Pratheepa ... Respondents

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Petition filed under Section 14A(2) of SC/ST Act, to call for the records and set aside the order dated 15.05.2026 in Crl.M.P.No.310 of 2026 on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Principal Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under POCSO Act, Thanjavur, Full Additional charge of the 1^st Additional District and Sessions Judge (PCR), Thanjavur, in connection with Cr.No.152 of 2025 on the file of the 2^nd respondent Police and enlarge the appellant on bail.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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CRL A(MD). No.595 of 2026

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For Appellant : Mr.K.M.Karunakaran For R1 and R2 : Mr.V.Moushica, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) For R3 : No appearance

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JUDGMENT

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The appellant, who is the 1^st accused in Crime No.152 of 2025, on the file of the 2^nd respondent police registered for the offence under Sections 191(3), 296(b), 351(3), 127(2), 103, 118(1), 303(2) of BNS @ 191(2), 191(3), 296(b), 351(3), 127(2), 103, 118(1), 303(2) of BNS r/w. Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of SC/ST (POA) Act, was arrested on 03.06.2025. Therefore, he moved a bail petition in Crl.M.P.No.310 of 2026 before the learned Sessions Judge, Principal Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under POCSO Act, Thanjavur and the same was dismissed by order dated 15.05.2026. Therefore, the appellant has filed this appeal seeking bail.

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2.The learned counsel for the appellant submits that the co-accused has been enlarged on bail and this appellant is in jail for more than 380 days.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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CRL A(MD). No.595 of 2026

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On 18.06.2026, the defacto complainant was present before this

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court along with her daughter and submitted that she apprehend danger at the hands of appellant and therefore, she opposed grant of bail to this appellant.

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4.The learned Government Counsel submits that the petitioner is a

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habitual offender and he is involved in the following 14 cases:

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Sl. No	Name of the Police Station	Crime No.	offences
1	Papanasam PS	149 of 2019	394 IPC
2	Kabisthalam PS	288 of 2019	386 IPC
3	Nadukaveri PS	122 of 2021	294(B), 352, 353, 506(ii) IPC
4	Thanjavur Town North PS	1396 of 2021	394 IPC
5	Nadukaveri PS	183 of 2022	147, 148, 296(B),323, 324, 506(ii) IPC
6	Thanjavur Town East PS	242 of 2023	294(B), 379, 506(ii) IPC
7	Tamil University PS	67 of 2024	392 IPC
8	Thanjavur Taluk PS	82 of 2024	392 IPC
9	Tamil University PS	272 of 2024	394 IPC
10	Patteeswaram PS	361 of 2024	309(4), 3(5) of BNS
11	Thanjavur Town East PS	458 of 2024	294(B), 324, 506(ii) IPC

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3/6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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CRL A(MD). No.595 of 2026

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Sl.
No

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Sl. No	Name of the Police Station	Crime No.	offences
12	Ayyampetttai PS	339 of 2024	4 (A) TNP Act
13	Nadukaveri PS	84 of 2025	118(1), 296(B), 333, 351(3) BNS r/w 25(1-A) Arms Act
14	Nadukaveri PS	152 of 2025	191(2), 191(3), 296(b), 351(3), 127(2), 103, 118(1), 303(2) BNS and Section 3(1)(r), 3(1) (s), 3(2)(Va) of SC/ST Act

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She further submits that the accused Nos.3, 5 and 6, who were enlarged

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on bail, are now absconding and against them, non bailable warrant of arrest is pending. She also submits that if the appellant is released on bail, he may threaten the defacto complainant and may not be available for the trial.

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5.Considering this submission of the learned Government Counsel,

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the learned counsel appearing for the appellant seeks permission of this

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court to withdraw this petition.

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6.This court has considered the rival submissions made.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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CRL A(MD). No.595 of 2026

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7.Considering the antecedent of the appellant and the co-accused

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are absconding after released on bail in order to drag on the trial, this court is not inclined to grant bail to this appellant Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed. However, the appellant shall renew the appeal after framing of charges.

22.06.2026

DSK