Disposed¶28

K. Balamurugan v. The District Collector

Madras HC3 Feb 2026WP Crl./199/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

electric motor theft; agricultural land; farmers; Nagapattinam District; Thittacheri Police Station; Superintendent of Police; District Collector; writ of Mandamus; Article 226 Constitution of India; fair and proper investigation; scientific and technological methods; CCTV footage; mobile tower analysis; call detail records; electronic evidence; representation dated 24.12.2025; complaint dated 18.12.2025; C.S.R.No.1216 of 2025; Crime No.10 of 2026; final report; Additional Public Prosecutor K.M.D.Muhilan; counsel R.Ponnusamy; disposed of at admission stage with consent; no costs; single judge bench.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the third respondent police to complete the investigation and file the final report at the earliest, in accordance with law; writ petition disposed of with no costs. ¶28

K. Balamurugan Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the third respondent police to complete the investigation and file the final report at the earliest, in accordance with law; writ petition disposed of with no costs.

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Issue for consideration

Whether respondents 2 and 3 should be directed to conduct a fair and proper investigation employing scientific and technological methods (including examination of CCTV footage, mobile tower analysis, call detail records and other electronic evidence), by considering the petitioner's representation dated 24.12.2025, within a time frame fixed by the Court. +1 more

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Court's answer

Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, the third respondent police is directed to complete the investigation and file the final report at the earliest, in accordance with law.

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Ratio / Principle

The petitioner's complaint has been duly considered by the third respondent police and a case has now been registered.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (A.D.Jagadish Chandira, J.; 03.02.2026), W.P.Crl.No.199 of 2026: Writ Petition (Criminal) under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of Mandamus directing respondents 2 and 3 (Superintendent of Police and Inspector of Police, Thittacheri Police Station, Nagapattinam District) to conduct a fair and proper investigation using scientific and technological methods — CCTV footage, mobile tower analysis, call detail records and other electronic evidence — by considering the petitioner's representation dated 24.12.2025, arising from theft of a 2 HP electric motor from his agricultural land (complaint lodged 18.12.2025) and similar thefts faced by other farmers. The Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that an enquiry was made in C.S.R.No.1216 of 2025 and, based on CCTV footage provided by the petitioner, a case was registered in Crime No.10 of 2026, with investigation still pending. Holding that the complaint had been duly considered and a case registered, the Court directed the third respondent police to complete the investigation and file the final report at the earliest in accordance with law. Petition disposed of at the admission stage itself with consent of both sides; no costs.

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W.P.Crl.No.199 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 03.02.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA

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W.P.(Crl.)No.199 of 2026

K.Balamurugan

... Petitioner

Vs.

The District Collector, Office of the Collector, Nagapattinam District.

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The Superintendent of Police, Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District.

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The Inspector of Police, Thittacheri Police Station, Nagapattinam District. ... Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition (Criminal) is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of Mandamus or direction in the nature of writ, to direct respondents 2 and 3 to conduct a fair and proper investigation by employing scientific and technological methods, including examination of CCTV footage, mobile tower analysis, call detail records and other electronic evidence, by considering the representation dated 24.12.2025, within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.R.Ponnusamy For Respondents : Mr.K.M.D.Muhilan Additional Public Prosecutor

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1/5

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

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W.P.Crl.No.199 of 2026

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O R D E R

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The present Writ Petition (Criminal) has been filed seeking a direction to respondents 2 and 3 to conduct a fair investigation, by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 24.12.2025.

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2 . Mr.K.M.D.Muhilan, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, takes notice on behalf of the respondents.

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3 . In view of the consent expressed by the learned counsel on either side, this Writ Petition (Criminal) is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

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4 . Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that on 18.12.2025, the petitioner lodged a complaint before the third respondent alleging that on 17.12.2025, a 2 HP electric motor installed in his agricultural land was stolen by unknown persons. He further submitted that it was not an isolated incident, as several farmers in the village had also lodged complaints regarding the theft of electric motors from their lands. However, no preventive measures were taken by the third respondent police. Hence, the petitioner sent a representation dated 24.12.2025 to the second respondent seeking appropriate steps to prevent such thefts. Since no action has been taken, the present petition has been filed. 2/5

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

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W.P.Crl.No.199 of 2026

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5 . Learned Additional Public Prosecutor, appearing for the

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respondents, submitted that based on the petitioner’s complaint, an enquiry was conducted by the third respondent in C.S.R.No.1216 of 2025 and thereafter, based on the CCTV footage provided by the petitioner, a case in Crime No.10 of 2026 was registered. He further submitted that the investigation in the said case is still pending .

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6 . Having heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and upon perusal of the materials available on record, this Court is of the opinion that the petitioner’s complaint has been duly considered by the third respondent police and that a case has now been registered. Therefore, taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court directs the third respondent police to complete the investigation and file the final report at the earliest, in accordance with law.

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7 . Accordingly, this Writ Petition (Criminal) stands disposed

of. No costs.

03.02.2026

ham

Neutral Citation: Yes/No 3/5

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