Rajammal Vs State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Panagudi

The petitioner/Accused, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 07.03.2026 for the offences punishable under Section 316 of BNS in Crime No.318 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

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2.The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner, who is the head of the women self help group misappropriated the amount to the tune of Rs.2,20,033/- paid by its members. Hence, the complaint.

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3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is a woman of age 49 years old and she had never intended to deceive the bank, but she was not able to repay the amount because only a few of the women from self help group have not paid the money. However, the prosecution has implicated the petitioner alleging that the petitioner has not remitted a sum of Rs.2,20,033/- from the women self help group members. She has been in jail for the past 47 days and sought the indulgence of this Court.

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CRL OP(MD). No. 8029 of 2026

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4.The learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that the petitioner is innocent and she was falsely implicated in this case. She has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that the petitioner has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 07.03.2026. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

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5.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent police vehemently opposed the grant of bail, pointing out that the petitioner, being the head of a women’s self-help group in her village, had obtained a loan of Rs.8,00,000/- from the bank on behalf of the group members. It is further submitted that the members of the self-help group had duly repaid a total sum of Rs.9,60,000/-, inclusive of interest, up to December 2025. However, the petitioner failed to remit a sum of Rs.2,20,033/- collected from the members into the bank and had misappropriated the same. Hence, a criminal case was registered against her, and she was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 07.03.2026. Therefore, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor prayed for dismissal of this petition.

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6.This Court heard both sides and perused the materials available

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on record.

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7.It is seen from the records that the petitioner had swindled a sum of Rs.2,20,033/- and has been in incarceration for the past 47 days. However, considering the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that she is willing to arrange the remaining amount if she is enlarged on bail, this Court is of the considered opinion that bail may be granted, subject to the condition that the petitioner shall pay a sum of Rs. 75,000/- in Crime No.318 of 2026 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor, at the time of execution of the bond. It is made clear that this condition is a precondition, and the petitioner shall be enlarged on bail only upon payment of the said sum of Rs.75,000/-.

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8.Considering the facts and circumstances of this case and also considering the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner and also considering the submission made by the petitioner for payment of the swindled amount, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner

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only upon payment of a sum of Rs.75,000/- (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand only) to the credit of Crime No.318 of 2026 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor; and also subject to the following conditions:

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[a] Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released

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on bail on condition to 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 Judicial Magistrate Court, Valliyoor, and on further conditions that:

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[b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent police, daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders.

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[c] the petitioner shall not commit any offence similar to

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the offence of which she is accused, or suspected, or of the commission of which she is suspected;

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[d] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;

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[e] the petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade her from disclosing

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CRL OP(MD). No. 8029 of 2026

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such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with

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the evidence;

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[f] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the

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learned Judicial Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the 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)AIR SCW 5560].

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[g] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can

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be registered under Section 269 BNS.

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(L V G J) 24.04.2026

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Sm

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