Sowmiya vs The State Rep By The Inspector Of Police

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 07.09.2026 for the alleged offence under Section 303(2) of BNS Act, 2023 in Crime No.402 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

The case of the prosecution is that, on 05.09.2026 the defacto complainant was at Tambaram 500 Bus stand and, while attempting to board a bus amidst the crowd, three women wearing purdah allegedly brushed past her. After boarding the bus, she was asked by her sister-in-law to check her neck chain, whereupon she noticed that gold chain weighing about four sovereigns was missing. Hence, the case.

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case and the petitioner is in judicial custody since 07.09.2026; and that the petitioner is ready to abide by any stringent conditions that may be imposed by this Court and sought for bail to the petitioner.

Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the Respondent Police reiterated the prosecution case, the charge sheet was filed, investigation is completed, A1 and A2 having previous cases. The petitioners allegedly snatched the gold chain from the three women. Hence, he opposed to grant bail to the petitioner.

I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions and perused the materials available on record.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also the period of incarceration, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner with certain conditions.

Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties each (one local surety and one blood surety), for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.I, Tambaram, and on further conditions that:

[a] the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the Application for Surety ship [Judicial Form No.46 annexed to 'The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019']. The learned Magistrate shall obtain a copy of any one of the identity proofs to ensure their identity;

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

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

[d] the petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;

[e] On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the aforementioned 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)13 SCC 283];

[f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S.