CRL A/384/2026 of Dhasan Vs The Assistant Commissioner of Police

CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA CRL A No. 384 of 2026 Dhasan ..Appellant(s) Vs 1. The Assistant Commissioner of Police Neelankarai Range, Chennai. 2. The Inspector Of Police AWPS, Neelankarai AWPS, Adyar District, Chennai. Crime No.3 of 2026. 3. Deepa ..Respondent(s) Prayer: This Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 14A(1) of SC/ST Act r/w 415(2) of BNSS, to set aside the order dated 18.03.2026 passed in Crl.MP.No.804 of 2026 by the Principal District and Sessions Court, Chengalpet and to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime NO.3 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police by allowing the above Criminal Appeal. For Appellant(s): Mr.D.Thirumoorthy For Respondent(s): Ms.J.R.Archana, GA (Crl.Side) for R1 and R2; Ms.E.Kirthika for Mr.P.Praveen Kumar, for R3. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 8 JUDGMENT The present Criminal Appeal has been preferred challenging the order dated 18.03.2026 passed by the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chengalpet, in Crl.M.P. No. 804 of 2026, whereby the application for bail f iled by the appellant was dismissed. 2.The case of the prosecution is that the victim/de facto complainant who is a BCA graduate hailing from the Adi Dravidar (SC) community, me t the appellant, Dhasan, in 2017 while they were both working at a company c alled Boan Communication in Perumbakkam. They fell in love in 2018. On December 27, 2022, while staying at a residency in Neelankarai, the appellant told her that he had a surprise gift for her where he produced a yellow thali (marriage thread), tied it around her neck, and placed silver ri ngs on her toes, declaring that they were now husband and wife. In February 2023, the victim/de facto complainant discovered that she was pregnant. When she asked the appellant to inform their parents about it and have a formal wedding, the appellant refused, saying that he needed more time to settle in his career. He began pressuring her to end the pregnancy. When she resisted, he reportedly scolded, beat, and tortured her until she gave in. On February 25, 2023, he gave her two pills, claiming that everything will be fine after this. The pills caused a forced abortion, leaving the victim/de facto complainant with sever e stomach pain and health issues. During this time, the appellant also took a sum of https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 8 ₹2,00,000 and gold jewelry from her to pay off his personal loans. Thereaft er the mother and brother of the appellant also got involved in this situati on which became even more abusive for the victim/de facto complainant. The appellant’s mother and his brother, allegedly threatened to kill her. They used her caste name to insult her and told her that they would never allow someone fr om her community into their home. In December 2024, the appellant’s brother c alled the victim/de facto complainant and her elderly parents to a temple in Kanchipuram, making it as if they wanted to make peace. Instead, the appellant’s family publicly humiliated the victim/de facto compl ainant and her family, using foul language, calling their caste name in an insulting manner and telling the victim/de facto complainant’s mother to marry her daughter to a tribal dog. The victim/de facto complainant later found out that the appellant was planning to marry a woman named Sophie. When she confronted him, initially, he lied and said that he had cancelled his wedding pla n with another woman, and that he would stay with the victim. However, the emoti onal abuse continued, and the appellant often blocked her phone number. The trauma was so great that the victim/de facto complainant tried to end her life twice in November 2024. When the appellant found out about the victim/de facto complainant’s suicide attempts, he told her, “Why are you still ali ve? You have to die.” In October 2025, after the appellant had blocked her phone for two full months, the victim/de facto complainant came to know from his friends that he had secretly married another woman on November 23, 2025. When she trie d to https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 8 get answers, the appellant and his family threatened to kill her. The appellant also threatened to leak her intimate photos and videos taken during their relationship to ruin her reputation, while insulting her with derogator y caste- based slurs. Hence, the complaint. 3.Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that this is a case of a consensual relationship between two adults, which has been falsely portrayed as cheating and criminal breach of trust. He further submits that since the de facto complainant belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, she has filed an exaggerated complaint, falsely alleging that the appellant and his family used caste-based slurs. It is further submitted that the appellant was arrested on 08.03.2026 and has been in custody for over a month. As the major part of the investigation is complete, there is no further need for custodial int errogation. Hence, he prays that the appeal may be allowed and the petitioner be enlarged on bail. 4.Learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) submits that the appellant induced the victim/de facto complainant into a physical re lationship under the pretext of marriage by tying a thali in private. He furt her submits that the appellant coerced her into undergoing an abortion and took significant sums of money from her on various occasions. He would also submit that the appellant eventually cheated the victim/de facto complainant by marrying https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 8 another woman and subjected her to verbal abuse, including derogatory c aste- based slurs. Considering the serious nature of the allegations and the atr ocities committed by the appellant, he strongly opposes the grant of bail to the appellant. 5.Considering the rival submissions, it is noted that the appellant has been in judicial custody since 08.03.2026 and a substantial part of the investigation has already been completed. While the allegations are serious, the relationship between the parties appears to have been long-standing. Furthermore, charge sheet is yet to be filed and further custodial interrogation is not deemed necessary at this stage. 6.In view of the above, this Court is inclined to allow the appeal. Accordingly, the appellant is granted bail, and the impugned order dated 18.03.2026 passed in Crl.M.P. No. 804 of 2026 on the file of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chengalpet, dismissing the bail application of the appellant, is hereby set aside. 7.Accordingly, the appellant is ordered to be released on bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) with two sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the le arned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chengalpet, and on further conditions that: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 8 [a] The sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card or bank pass book to ensure their identity. [b] The appellant shall appear before the respondent police everyday at 06:30 p.m. until further orders. [c] The appellant shall not abscond either during the investigation or trial; [d] The appellant shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial; [e] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the appellant in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the appellant 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) AIR SCW 5560]; [f] If the appellant thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 B.N.S. 8.Thus, this Criminal Appeal stands allowed. 09-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No SHA https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page7 of 8 To 1. The Assistant Commissioner of Police Neelankarai Range, Chennai. 2. The Inspector Of Police AWPS, Neelankarai AWPS, Adyar District, Chennai. 3. The Principal District and Sessions Court, Chengalpat. 4. The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL A No. 384 of 2026 __________ Page8 of 8 A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J. SHA CRL A No. 384 of 2026 09-04-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis