CHINNADURAI Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants are Accused Nos.3 and 4 in Crime No.560 of 2025 on the file of Melur Police Station, Madurai. The case has been registered for the offences punishable under Ss. 191(2), 191(3), 49, 296(b), 118(1), 109(1) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Ss. 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, on the basis of a complaint lodged by Muthuraja, the defacto complainant. The bail applications filed by the appellants were dismissed by the learned III Additional District and Sessions Judge (PCR), Madurai, by orders dtd. 7/1/2026 (A3) and 2/1/2026 (A4). Aggrieved by the same, the present criminal appeals have been filed.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and is working as an excavator operator, had been raising the issue relating to the restoration of about 190.74 acres of Panchami lands in Keeranur Village from the year 2024. According to him, the said lands were under the illegal occupation of Accused Nos.6 to 9. He had submitted representations to the authorities and thereafter filed WP(MD)No.32088 of 2025 before this Court seeking resumption and redistribution of the Panchami lands in favour of the Scheduled Caste residents of Keeranur Village. By order dtd. 12/11/2025, this Court directed the Commissioner of Land Administration and the District Collector, Madurai, to consider his representation in accordance with the relevant Government Orders.

(3.) According to the prosecution, Accused No.5, Rajendhiran, who was also involved in illegal sand quarrying in the Panchami lands, developed a grudge as against the defacto complainant that he had lodged a complaint against him. It is further alleged that certain other persons, including Chellapandi, Ayyankalai, Ravi and Sasi, had also encroached upon the Panchami lands.