Lakshmanakanthan @ Karuppasa vs The State of Tamilnadu rep by
- Court
- Madras High Court
CRL A(MD) No. 1107 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
RESERVED ON : 12.10.2026
DELIVERED ON: 27.10.2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.KARTHIKEYAN
Crl.A(MD) No.1107 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011259372026}
Lakshmana kanthan @ Karuppasamy @ Karuppa
..Appellant
Vs
1. The State of Tamilnadu
Represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police,
Palayamkottai Police Station,
Tirunelveli City.
2. State of Tamilnadu,
Rep by the Inspector of Police,
Palayamkottai Police Station,
Tirunelveli City.
In Cr.No.302 of 2024.
3. Muthukumar
..Respondents
PRAYER: This Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 14A (2) of
SC/ST Act, 1989 as amended by Act 1 of 2016 to call for the records
relating to the order in Cr.M.P.No.336/2026 dated 30.06.2026 in
S.C.No.75/2024 on the file the learned II Additional District and Sessions
Judge (PCR), Tirunelveli and set aside the same and grant bail to the
appellant by allowing this Criminal Appeal.
For Petitioner: Mr.A.Muthuram
For R1 and R2: Mr.A.Robinson,
Additional Public Prosecutor
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For R3 : Mr.C.Mayilvahana Rajendran
JUDGMENT
This Criminal Appeal is directed against the order declining bail passed
by the learned II Additional District and Sessions Judge (PCR), Tirunelveli, in
Cr.M.P.No.336 of 2026 dated 30.06.2026.
2. The learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the case of the
prosecution is that the deceased was standing near the hotel when some
unknown persons attacked him and caused his death. Therefore, initially, the
case was registered in Crime No.302 of 2024 for the offences punishable under
Section 302 of the IPC against unknown persons. Subsequently, a final report
was filed against 18 accused. The appellant herein is arrayed as A14. He was
implicated in the above crime only based on the confession of the co-accused.
Thus, the appellant was not present at the scene of crime and he never
participated in the conspiracy as alleged by the prosecution. According to the
learned counsel for the Appellant, since the appellant has some previous bad
antecedents, he was falsely roped in the present crime also. The investigation
was already completed and the final report was filed before the Trial Court,
which was taken on file in S.C.No.75 of 2024.
3. The learned counsel for the appellant further contended that the
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appellant was originally released on bail by the Trial Court in Cr.M.P.No.3136
of 2024 vide order dated 11.09.2024, on the condition that he shall stay at
Kanchipuram and report before the Cheyyar Police Station daily twice at 9.00
a.m., and 5.00 p.m., until further orders. Since the appellant had suffered a life
threat, he was unable to comply with the said condition. The learned counsel
for the appellant further submitted that, though bail was granted on 11.09.2024
itself, the appellant came out from the prison only on 04.11.2024. Due to life
threat, on 02.04.2025, the appellant filed an application before this Hon’ble
Court in Crl.O.P(MD)No. 9615 of 2025 seeking transfer of the Sessions Case
however, it was dismissed on 10.06.2025. In the meantime, on 05.03.2025, the
State moved an application seeking cancellation of bail in Cr.M.P.No.111 of
2025. The said application was heard and the Trial Court, by order dated
09.09.2025, allowed the petition and cancelled the bail granted by it. The only
ground on which the bail was cancelled was that the appellant herein had failed
to appear before the respondent Police as directed by the Trial Court.
4. The learned counsel for the appellant relied on the decision of the
Hon'ble Apex Court in the judgment of Sheik Irshad @ Monu Vs State of
Maharashtra reported in 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1185 , to show that, after filing
of the charge sheet and committal to the Court of Session, a direction to appear
before the Police Station is prima facie not tenable. Therefore, the Hon'ble
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Apex Court held that cancellation of bail merely on the ground of non-
appearance at the Police Station may not be a correct approach and good
ground. Therefore, according to the learned counsel for the appellant, the order
cancelling bail itself is erroneous.
5. Subsequently, a Non-Bailable Warrant was issued against the
appellant, and the appellant herein challenged the bail cancellation before this
Court in Crl.A.No.1126/25 which was dismissed on 28.1125 and pursuant to
the said order in Appeal he voluntarily surrendered on 04.02.2026 was taken
into judicial custody. He has been in incarceration since then. According to the
learned counsel for the appellant, the appellant failed to comply with the bail
condition only due to the life threat. Now that he is ready to comply with the
conditions that may be imposed by this Court, in the event of he being released
on bail. The co-accused were granted bail by the Trial Court as well as by this
Court. All the co-accused who were released on bail are complying with the
conditions without any deviations. Therefore, the learned counsel for the
appellant prays for setting aside the order passed by the Trial Court and for
granting bail to the appellant.
6. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that on
20.05.2024 at 13.30 hours one Deepak Raja was brutally murdered by the
appellant herein and other co-accused. The learned Additional Public
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Prosecutor, further submitted that the Appellant was granted bail on specific
condition that he shall stay at Kanchipuram and sign before the Cheyyar Police
Station. Though the appellant herein came out of jail on 04.11.2024, he did not
comply with the condition even for a single day. Therefore, on 05.03.2025, the
respondent Police moved a bail cancellation petition before the Trial Court and
the Trial Court has cancelled the bail. The said order was challenged before
this Hon’ble Court and dismissed on 28.11.2025 in Crl.A(MD) No.1126 of
2025 and this court directed the appellant to surrender before the Trial Court.
The appellant and the other co-accused were not complying with the conditions
and often went absconding to prevent the progress of the trial. Though the
charge sheet was filed in the year 2024 itself, due to the dilatory tactics adopted
by the appellant and the other co-accused, the Trial Court is not even in a
position to even frame charges against the accused. Now, the case against A8
has been split up and the case is posted for framing of charges against the
remaining accused. If the appellant were released on bail, he would abscond
and would not allow the trial to proceed further. The appellant had ten previous
cases, including murder cases and attempted to murder cases. Even during the
bail period, the appellant involved in 2 criminal cases. Therefore, the learned
Additional Public Prosecutor strongly opposed the grant of bail to the
appellant.
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7. Notice was issued to the de facto complainant. The de facto
complainant appeared through the counsel.
8. The learned counsel for the de facto complainant/R3 contended that
his brother, Deepak Raja, was brutally murdered on 20.05.2024 at 13.30 hours
by the appellant herein and other co-accused. On completion of the
investigation, the charge sheet was filed before the learned II Additional
District and Sessions Judge (PCR), Tirunelveli and the same was taken on file
in S.C.No.75 of 2024.
9. Further, the appellant herein was arrested on 31.05.2024 and was
subsequently enlarged on bail by the Trial Court in Cr.M.P.No.3136 of 2024
by order dated 11.09.2024, subject to the condition that he should stay in
Kanchipuram District and appear and sign before the Cheyyar Police Station
daily at 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. until further orders. The appellant was released
from prison and came out; however, from the date of his release, he failed to
comply with the condition even for a single day and was absconding. During
the period of his absence, he was involved in yet another criminal offence and
a case was registered against him, following which he was remanded to judicial
custody. Further, the de facto complainant and other witnesses were threatened
by the appellant herein and other co-accused and attempts were made to tamper
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with the witnesses. The threats were brought to the notice of the first
respondent. The first respondent moved an application for cancellation of bail
in Cr.M.P.No.111 of 2025 before the learned II Additional Sessions Judge,
Tirunelveli and the Trial Court cancelled the bail granted to the appellant
herein by order dated 09.09.2025. A non-bailable warrant was issued. The
appellant challenged the bail cancellation order before this court which was
dismissed by this Court. Pursuant to which he surrendered on 04.02.2026. The
appellant/petitioner filed a bail petition before the Trial Court in
Crl.M.P.No.336 of 2026 and the same was dismissed by order dated
30.06.2026. The Trial Court considered all the attending circumstances and
passed the said impugned order. The appellant is a history-sheeter, a notorious
rowdy element and a close associate of A1, who has several previous cases.
Owing to the non-cooperation of the appellant and the other co-accused, the
Trial Court is not even in a position to frame charges against the accused. The
de facto complainant had approached this Court in Crl.O.P(MD) No.18690 of
2024, seeking expeditious disposal of S.C No.75 of 2024 on the file of the II
Additional District and Sessions Court (PCR), Tirunelveli and this Court was
pleased to direct the Trial Court to dispose of the case as early as possible
without granting long adjournments beyond fifteen days. However, the
appellant and other co-accused deliberately adopted dilatory tactics and
delayed the proceedings. Hence, the learned counsel for the de facto
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complainant prays for dismissal of the bail petition.
10. This Court has given its thoughtful consideration to the rival
submissions put forth by either side. It is the case of the prosecution that the
appellant herein and other co-accused unlawfully assembled and brutally
murdered one Deepak Raja on 20.05.2024. From the submissions of the
learned counsel for the appellant, it is found that the appellant herein was
arrested on 31.05.2024 and was subsequently enlarged on bail by the trial court
in Cr.M.P. No.3136 of 2024 by order dated 11.09.2024. He came out of prison
only on 04.11.2024.
11. From the submissions of the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, it
is found that, though the appellant herein came out of jail on 04.11.2024, he
did not comply with the condition even for a single day, namely, staying in
Kanchipuram and signing before the Cheyyar Police Station. Therefore, on
05.03.2025, the respondent Police moved a bail cancellation petition before the
Trial Court, which found that the appellant had not complied with the condition
even for a single day and cancelled the bail.
12. The learned counsel for the appellant relied on the decision of the
Hon'ble Apex Court in Sheik Irshad @ Monu Vs State of Maharashtra
reported in 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1185 , to contend that, after the filing of the
charge sheet, when the trial is in progress, a direction to appear at the Police
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Station is prima facie not tenable. Therefore, the cancellation of bail merely on
the ground of non-appearance at the Police Station may not be a correct
approach or a valid ground. However, on careful perusal of the said decision, it
is found that the Hon'ble Apex Court observed that, in that case, after the filing
of the charge sheet, the trial had commenced and the accused was regularly
attending court. However, in this case, after the appellant came out of jail, he
never appeared before the Police Station or before the Trial Court.
13. Though the learned counsel for the appellant contended that the
appellant was facing a life threat and therefore, was unable to comply with the
conditions, the same was not substantiated by any relevant materials. From the
submissions of the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, it is found that the
appellant and the other co-accused were not complying with the conditions and
often went absconding to prevent the progress of the trial. Though the charge
sheet was filed in the year 2024 itself, due to the dilatory tactics adopted by the
appellant and the other co-accused, the Trial Court is not even in a position to
frame charges against the accused. Now, the case against A8 has been split up
and the case is posted for framing of charges against the remaining accused.
14. From the submissions of the learned counsel for the defacto
complainant, it is found that the de facto complainant had already approached
this Court in Crl.O.P.(MD) No.18690 of 2024, seeking an expeditious trial of
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S.C.No.75 of 2024 on the file of the II Additional District and Sessions Court
(PCR), Tirunelveli and this Court also directed the Trial Court to dispose of the
case as early as possible without granting long adjournments beyond fifteen
days. From the submission of the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, it is
clear that charges have not yet been framed. Therefore, at this juncture, if the
appellant is released on bail, it would not be conducive for the speedy disposal
of the above case.
15. Further, on careful perusal of the records, this Court found that the
Trial Court, after considering the relevant facts, cancelled the bail and the said
order was challenged before this Hon’ble Court and dismissed on 28.11.2025
in Crl.A(MD) No.1126 of 2025. The Trial Court has cited the same as one of
the grounds for rejecting bail. In the given circumstances, this Court finds no
reason to interfere with the order passed by the Trial Court. Accordingly, this
Criminal Appeal is dismissed.
27-10-2026
Index: Yes/No
Speaking/Non-speaking order
Neutral Citation: Yes/No
Indu
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CRL A(MD) No. 1107 of 2026
To
1. The Assistant Commissioner of Police,
Palayamkottai Police Station,
Tirunelveli City.
2. The Inspector of Police,
Palayamkottai Police Station,
Tirunelveli City.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
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CRL A(MD) No. 1107 of 2026
S.KARTHIKEYAN, J.
Indu
Crl.A(MD) No.1107 of 2026
27-10-2026
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