IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 21-01-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA Selvi ..Petitioner(s)

Vs The State Represented by The Inspector of Police, Pennadam Police Station, Pennadam, Cuddaore District.

..Respondent(s)

PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, to direct the respondent to defreeze the account of the petitioner bearing savings account No.1233119103067 with Canara Bank, having branch at Pennadam, Cuddalore District and the petitioner be allowed to operate the said bank account.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.C.Vishwanth For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (crl.side)

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent to defreeze the account of the petitioner bearing savings Account No.1233119103067 with Canara Bank, having branch at Pennadam, Cuddalore District.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a woman eking out her livelihood by running a petty shop and that she has been falsely implicated in Crime No.165 of 2025 for the alleged offences under Sections 275, 123 and 24(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. He further submitted that the petitioner was remanded to judicial custody and after a period of 10 days, she was released on 16.07.2025. In the meantime, the respondent authorities, by issuing a letter, caused the freezing of the petitioner’s bank account maintained with Canara Bank, Pennadam Branch, bearing Account No.1233119103067. Pursuant to the said letter issued by the respondent, the bank has frozen the account of the petitioner and therefore, the present petition has been filed seeking defreezing of the said account.

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

appearing for the respondent submitted that the petitioner is an accused in Crime No.165 of 2025 and that based on the materials collected during investigation, her account was frozen. It is further submitted that the investigation has been completed and the final report has already been filed before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Thittakudi. Therefore, the petitioner cannot directly approach this Court and has to approach the concerned Judicial Magistrate seeking defreezing of the bank account.

4. In view of the submissions made on either side and considering the fact that the investigation has already been completed and the final report has been filed before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Thittakudi, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of, granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the concerned Judicial Magistrate seeking defreezing of the bank account in accordance with law.

21-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No vkr To

1.The Judicial Magistrate, Thittakudi.

2.The Inspector of Police, Pennadam Police Station, Pennadam, Cuddaore District.

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.

vkr

21-01-2026