Devi v. State Rep. by, The Inspector of Police
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court, CRL OP No. 11828 of 2026, decided 03-06-2026 by Justice C. Kumarappan. Anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for offences under Sections 318(4) BNS in Crime No. not known of 2026 (H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station, Chennai). Petitioners Devi and Murgan, alleged LIC agents, accused of misappropriating policy holders' funds; counsel urged amount was only Rs. 8 lakhs and collection from subscribers impossible; Government Advocate opposed citing receipt of Rs. 85,00,000/- public money, zero recovery, and need for custodial interrogation to trace layering. Bail refused despite 1st petitioner being a woman; petition dismissed.
What did the court decide?
The Court finds merit in the Government Advocate's contention that unless the petitioners are taken into custodial interrogation, tracking and identifying the layering of the alleged amount would be extremely difficult, especially as the investigating agency has not yet recovered any part of it.