CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 08.06.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI CRL A(MD)No.596 of 2026 Sathiayraj @ Sathiyaraj ... Appellant Vs 1. The State of Tamilnadu through The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Orathanadu Sub Division, Thanjavur District. 2. The Inspector of Police, Vattathikkottai Police Station, Thanjavur District. Crime No.111/2026. 3. Karthika ... Respondents Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 14A (1) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2005, seeking to call for the records and set aside the order dated 25.05.2026 made in Crl.M.P.No.330 of 2026 on the file of the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, (PCR), Thanjavur. 1/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 For Appellant : Mr.C.Senthil Murugan For R1 and R2 : Mrs.V.Moushica, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) For R3 : Mr.S.Balaji JUDGMENT

The appellant, 2nd accused in Cr.No.111 of 2026 on the file of the Vattathikkottai Police Station, Thanjavur District, was arrested on 19.05.2026. The said case was originally registered for the offence under Section 194 BNS and subsequently, altered into Sections 108, 351(2) of BNS and Section 4 of TNPECI r/w. Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of SC/ST (POA) Act, 2015. He moved a bail petition before the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge, (PCR Court), Thanjavur, in Crl.M.P.No.330 of 2026 and the same was dismissed by the trial Court on 25.05.2026. Challenging the same, this criminal appeal has been filed. 2. The learned counsel appearing for the appellant submits that the appellant is the friend of the deceased and he is not having any money transaction with him, however, the respondent Police has projected the 2/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 case as if the appellant lent money to the deceased, demanded to repay the amount and also abused him in filthy language, which resulted in committing suicide by the deceased. 3. The learned counsel for the appellant further submits that the appellant is an innocent and he is not a money lender and he was doing a partnership business with the deceased. Since the appellant is in jail from 19.05.2026, he seeks to grant bail.

4. The learned counsel for the second respondent/defacto complainant submits that the deceased was doing lathe work and he borrowed a sum of Rs.4 lakh from the appellant and thereafter, he has repaid the amount together with interest. Even then, the appellant went to the deceased's house at night hour, harassed him by demanding exorbitant interest and also abused his wife, which resulted in committing suicide by the deceased. 3/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 5. The learned counsel for State of Tamil Nadu also confirmed the submission of the defacto complainant and submits that it is a case of demanding exorbitant interest and the appellant is indulging in collecting exorbitant interest. According to the learned counsel, this appellant went to the house of the deceased on 14.05.2026 at 11.00 p.m., harassed him by demanding more money from the deceased and also abused him. Again, the appellant visited the deceased's house on 15.05.2026 at night hour and demanded money. Therefore, the deceased consumed poison and committed suicide on 17.05.2026. 6. The first respondent, the investigating officer, has also filed the status report before this Court. The relevant portions are extracted as under:

“Pursuant to the disclosure made by the appellant, recovery proceedings were conducted. From the appellant's house several incriminating documents were recovered including signed promissory notes executed by the deceased, signed blank cheques belonging to the deceased, bank passbook of the deceased, PAN card and aadhaar card copies of the deceased, documents obtained from more than forty other persons as security for loans 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 advanced by the appellant. All the recovered materials were seized under mahazar and produced before the concerned court under Form-91. The nature of the documents recovered clearly reveals that the appellant was systematically carrying on an unauthorized money lending and finance business in the locality. The recovery of security documents belonging to more than forty individuals demonstrates that the appellant was not engaged in an isolated private transaction but was habitually advancing loans on interest and obtaining valuable securities from borrowers.” 7. Considering the manner in which the deceased has committed suicide and also considering the materials which have been collected by the investigating officer, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the appellant. Accordingly, this Criminal Appeal is dismissed. 08.06.2026 ogy 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 To 1. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Orathanadu Sub Division, Thanjavur District.

2. The Inspector of Police, Vattathikkottai Police Station, Thanjavur District. 3. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 6/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 B.PUGALENDHI, J. ogy CRL A(MD) No.596 of 2026 08.06.2026 7/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 08.06.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI CRL A(MD)No.596 of 2026 Sathiayraj @ Sathiyaraj ... Appellant Vs 1. The State of Tamilnadu through The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Orathanadu Sub Division, Thanjavur District. 2. The Inspector of Police, Vattathikkottai Police Station, Thanjavur District. Crime No.111/2026. 3. Karthika ... Respondents Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 14A (1) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2005, seeking to call for the records and set aside the order dated 25.05.2026 made in Crl.M.P.No.330 of 2026 on the file of the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, (PCR), Thanjavur. 1/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 For Appellant : Mr.C.Senthil Murugan For R1 and R2 : Mrs.V.Moushica, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) For R3 : Mr.S.Balaji JUDGMENT

The appellant, 2nd accused in Cr.No.111 of 2026 on the file of the Vattathikkottai Police Station, Thanjavur District, was arrested on 19.05.2026. The said case was originally registered for the offence under Section 194 BNS and subsequently, altered into Sections 108, 351(2) of BNS and Section 4 of TNPECI r/w. Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of SC/ST (POA) Act, 2015. He moved a bail petition before the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge, (PCR Court), Thanjavur, in Crl.M.P.No.330 of 2026 and the same was dismissed by the trial Court on 25.05.2026. Challenging the same, this criminal appeal has been filed. 2. The learned counsel appearing for the appellant submits that the appellant is the friend of the deceased and he is not having any money transaction with him, however, the respondent Police has projected the 2/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 case as if the appellant lent money to the deceased, demanded to repay the amount and also abused him in filthy language, which resulted in committing suicide by the deceased. 3. The learned counsel for the appellant further submits that the appellant is an innocent and he is not a money lender and he was doing a partnership business with the deceased. Since the appellant is in jail from 19.05.2026, he seeks to grant bail.

4. The learned counsel for the second respondent/defacto complainant submits that the deceased was doing lathe work and he borrowed a sum of Rs.4 lakh from the appellant and thereafter, he has repaid the amount together with interest. Even then, the appellant went to the deceased's house at night hour, harassed him by demanding exorbitant interest and also abused his wife, which resulted in committing suicide by the deceased. 3/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 5. The learned counsel for State of Tamil Nadu also confirmed the submission of the defacto complainant and submits that it is a case of demanding exorbitant interest and the appellant is indulging in collecting exorbitant interest. According to the learned counsel, this appellant went to the house of the deceased on 14.05.2026 at 11.00 p.m., harassed him by demanding more money from the deceased and also abused him. Again, the appellant visited the deceased's house on 15.05.2026 at night hour and demanded money. Therefore, the deceased consumed poison and committed suicide on 17.05.2026. 6. The first respondent, the investigating officer, has also filed the status report before this Court. The relevant portions are extracted as under:

“Pursuant to the disclosure made by the appellant, recovery proceedings were conducted. From the appellant's house several incriminating documents were recovered including signed promissory notes executed by the deceased, signed blank cheques belonging to the deceased, bank passbook of the deceased, PAN card and aadhaar card copies of the deceased, documents obtained from more than forty other persons as security for loans 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 advanced by the appellant. All the recovered materials were seized under mahazar and produced before the concerned court under Form-91. The nature of the documents recovered clearly reveals that the appellant was systematically carrying on an unauthorized money lending and finance business in the locality. The recovery of security documents belonging to more than forty individuals demonstrates that the appellant was not engaged in an isolated private transaction but was habitually advancing loans on interest and obtaining valuable securities from borrowers.” 7. Considering the manner in which the deceased has committed suicide and also considering the materials which have been collected by the investigating officer, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the appellant. Accordingly, this Criminal Appeal is dismissed. 08.06.2026 ogy 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 To 1. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Orathanadu Sub Division, Thanjavur District.

2. The Inspector of Police, Vattathikkottai Police Station, Thanjavur District. 3. The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. 6/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A(MD). No.596 of 2026 B.PUGALENDHI, J. ogy CRL A(MD) No.596 of 2026 08.06.2026 7/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis