ORDER :

N. Anand Venkatesh, J.

This petition has been filed challenging the written endorsement of the Court below dated 15.11.2023 wherein the statutory bail petition filed by the petitioner was returned on the ground that the charge sheet has already been filed by the respondent.

2. When the matter came up for hearing on 29.01.2024, this Court passed the following order :-

When the matter came up for hearing on 22.01.2024, this Court passed the following order :-

The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners were arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 18.05.2023. The 118th day expired on the mid night of 13.11.2023. The petitioners filed the statutory bail on 15.11.2023 at 10.30 a.m. However, this application has been returned by the Court below through the impugned endorsement dated 15.11.2023 on the ground that charge sheet has already been filed.

2. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of respondent submitted that the final report was filed on 13.11.2023 at 11.24 a.m. and it was taken on file and numbered as C.C.No.96 of 2023 on 15.11.2023. Therefore, it was contended that the petitioners are not entitled for statutory bail