Vaseemudeen vs State

K. Rajasekar, J

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 28.10.2025 for the offences punishable under Sections 178 of BNS in Crime No.490 of 2025, registered on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail. The earlier bail application of the petitioner was dismissed by this Court, vide order dated 21.11.2025 in Crl.O.P.No.31860 of 2025.

The allegation against the petitioner herein is that, the petitioner and other accused were involved in counterfeiting and circulation of counterfeit Rs.500 currency notes among the public; that when the counterfeit notes were deposited in the bank, the bank manager immediately lodged a complaint; that upon investigation, it is revealed that the petitioner herein along with other accused involved in this offence and subsequently, they were arrested. Hence, this case.

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case and he is in judicial custody since 28.10.2025; that the similarly placed co-accused were already granted bail by this Court in Crl.O.P.Nos.31067, 31483 and 33225 of 2025 dated 13.11.2025, 18.11.2025 and 04.12.2025; and that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and sought for bail to the petitioner.

The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent while opposing the bail to the petitioner reiterated the prosecution case and submitted that there are totally six accused involved in this case and the petitioner is arrayed as A5; that the petitioner has no previous antecedents; and that the investigation of this case is pending.

Considering the submissions made on both sides, facts and circumstances of the case, the petitioner has no previous antecedents, the similarly placed co-accused were already enlarged on bail by this Court in Crl.O.P.Nos.31067, 31483 and 33225 of 2025 and taking note of the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner herein, 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.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties each, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned District Munsif Cum Judicial Magistrate, Ranipet 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., for a period of three months and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation;

[c] 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];

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