Sumslathieftheen vs State And Others

Sunder Mohan, J

This petition has been filed to modify the condition passed by the Special Judge TNPID Court at Chennai in Crl.M.P.No.1800 of 2023 dated 08.05.2023 in connection with the case in Crime No.01 of 2023 pending on the file of the respondents police.

The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner had filed bail petition under Section 167(2) of Cr.P.C. He further submit that while granting bail to the petitioner, the trial Court imposed onerous condition on the petitioner and the petitioner was directed to deposit the Original Title Deeds of immovable property worth Rs.3 crores standing in the name of the petitioner or his relatives or his friends along with Valuation Certificate obtained from the authority concerned within a period of 60 days from the date of his release.

The learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondents police opposed the prayer for modification stating that earlier, this Court had granted bail with the same condition and the petitioner has not complied with the said condition.

This Court is of the view that merely because the petitioner was directed to deposit the Original Title Deeds of immovable property worth Rs.3 crores while considering his release on regular bail, the order granting bail under Section 167(2) of Cr.P.C cannot be subject to the said onerous condition.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court and this Court have repeatedly held that statutory bail cannot be denied by imposing such onerous condition.

Hence, the Condition No.8 imposed in Last Paragraph of the order dated 08.05.2023 in Crl.M.P.No.1800 of 2023 is deleted. The other conditions imposed on the petitioner shall remain intact.

Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed.