IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 08.01.2026 CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA and Crl.M.P.Nos.24935 & 24936 of 2026

1.Raju

2.Sridhar

3.Ravi

4.Varadharaj (Naveen)

5.Venkatesan ... Petitioners Vs.

1. The State Represented by, The Inspector of Police, Periyanaickenpalayam Police Station, Coimbatore.

2. Lakshminarayanapathi ... Respondents PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, to call for the records relating to C.C.No.5291 of 2025 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore and to quash the same.

For Petitioners : Mr.S.Y.Syed Aman For R1 : Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Criminal Side)

For R2 : Mr.L.P.Shanmugasundaram

O R D E R

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.5291 of 2025 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioners were working as priests/ hereditary archakars in the Sri Karavaradaraja Perumal Temple under the administration of the de facto complainant. As per the orders of the Temple Tribunal and Revenue Officials, a Brahmotsavam Hundiyal was used during the Brahmotsavam conducted in the years 2022 and 2023. The offerings collected in the said Hundiyal, consisting of gold, silver and cash were valued at about Rs.15,00,000/-. On 02.05.2024, the devotees noticed that the said Hundiyal was missing. The prosecution alleges that the accused, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, illegally broke open the Hundiyal and misappropriated the offerings. Hence, the de facto complainant has given a complaint before the first respondent and based on the complaint, a Crime No.301 of 2024 was registered against the petitioners.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are innocent persons and that there is no CCTV footage or any documentary or circumstantial evidence to prove the petitioners’ knowledge of or participation in any alleged fraudulent activity. He further submitted that there are two rival groups regarding management of the temple. Since the petitioners belong to a different group, a false complaint has been lodged against them. He further submitted that the de facto complainant does not have any direct knowledge with regard to the alleged theft. He also submitted that the Management Committee of the temple has given a letter stating that the petitioners are not involved in the offence.

4. Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side)

appearing for the first respondent submitted that there are statements from the witnesses to the effect that the petitioners were in possession of the keys of the Hundiyal. On 02.05.2024, L.W.2 had gone to the temple and the Hundiyal was found missing and when it was enquired, the petitioners did not state anything. The petitioners have also ensured that the CCTV did not function. He further submitted that the grounds raised by the petitioners are all matters for trial and the proceedings cannot be quashed under Section

482 of Cr.P.C.

5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for the first respondent and perused the materials available on record.

6. Taking into consideration the fact that the grounds raised by the petitioners are matters for trial, this Court cannot indulge in quashing the proceedings.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed.

Consequently, connected Miscellaneous petitions are closed. The petitioners are at liberty to raise all the grounds raised in the petition during the course of trial.

08.01.2026 vkr Neutral Citation: Yes/No To

1. The Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore.

2. The Inspector of Police, Periyanaickenpalayam Police Station, Coimbatore.

3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA , J .

vkr and Crl.M.P.Nos.24935 & 24936 of 2025

08.01.2026