SATHISH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 7/10/2025 for the alleged offences punishable under Ss. 143 of BNS and 16 of Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, in Crime No.191 of 2025 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

(2.) The case of prosecution is that on 7/10/2025 the VAO of Sankaramanallur-South Village, Tiruppur District had lodged a complaint, alleged that one A.Venkatesan of Chengalpet District had complained that Irula Scheduled Tribes of Naduvakkarai, Pounjur, Chittar & Pudupakkam villages at Chengalpet District, are used to bring to his village continuously for seven years for harvesting sugar cane fields as bonded labors. Immediately, the RDO-Udumalpet, had secured 19 ladies from the sugar cane fields and shifted them to Rajeswari Kalyana Mandabam, inquired, collected their statements, on 9/5/2025, found that no one had been treated as bonded labor. They used to come for harvesting sugarcane every year as their routines works. Therefore the complaint was closed. Again the said Venkatesan had complained to the State Commission for Woman, which is forwarded to District Collector " " Tiruppur, who in turn appointed a DRO Managing Director / Special DRO, Madathukulam " " Amaravathy Sugar Factory, as Special Inquiry Officer on 14/9/2025. The DRO went to Madhanahalli Village, Nanjankode Taluk, Mysore District at Karnataka State, where they are harvesting sugarcanes; observed them; thinks himself that only 10 ladies were appears to be bonded labors and concluded that who were worked at Sankaramanallur " " South Village five months back, might be bonded labors. Hence this case

(3.) Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that the petitioner was arrested and he is in judicial custody from 7/10/2025 and ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, he prayed for grant of bail to the petitioner.