IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated: 06.01.2026 Coram:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN H.C.P. No.1652 of 2025 Ajantha .. Petitioner Vs.

1. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Fort St. George, Chennai

2. The District Magistrate and District Collector The Nilgiris District @ Udhagamandalam

3. The Superintendent of Police The Nilgiris District

4. The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Coimbatore

5. The Inspector of Police AWPS-Ooty Rural Police Station The Nilgiris District .. Respondents Prayer: Habeas Corpus Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to call for the records in Cr.M.P.No.03/2025 on the file of the second respondent, set aside the detention order dated 25.07.2025 and direct the second respondent to produce the Senthilkumar, son of Mahalingam, aged about 50 years, presently detained at the Central Prison, Coimbatore under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 as a sexual offender.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Balasubramaniam For Respondents : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj, Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr.M.Sylvester John

ORDER

(The Order of the Court was made by P.Velmurugan, J)

This Habeas Corpus Petition has been filed to call for the records in Cr.M.P.No.03/2025 on the file of the second respondent, set aside the detention order dated 25.07.2025 and direct the second respondent to produce the detenu Senthilkumar, S/o. Mahalingam, aged about 50 years, presently detained at the Central Prison, Coimbatore, under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 as a sexual offender.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner seeks to quash the order of detention mainly on the ground that the detenu had not filed any bail application and there was no likelihood of coming out of bail, whereas, the detaining authority, by referring to a case which is totally different and in which the accused was granted bail, has passed the detention order.

3. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents submitted that the petitioner was involved in sexual offences and crime against children and has spoiled the life of 20 children. Further, he was also involved in the offences under the SC/ST Act. Therefore, the detention order was passed.

4. Considering the serious nature of offences involved by the petitioner for the offences under the POCSO Act and also SC/ST Act, this Court is not inclined to interfere with the detention order passed by the detaining authority.

6. Accordingly, this Habeas Corpus Petition is dismissed.

(P.V., J) (M.J.R., J)

06.01.2026 ksa-2 Neutral Citation: Yes/No To

1. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Fort St. George, Chennai

2. The District Magistrate and District Collector The Nilgiris District @ Udhagamandalam

3. The Superintendent of Police The Nilgiris District

4. The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Coimbatore

5. The Inspector of Police AWPS-Ooty Rural Police Station The Nilgiris District

6. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

P.VELMURUGAN, J and M.JOTHIRAMAN, J ksa-2

06.01.2026