Madras High Court
Dr Ponraj vs State Rep By The Inspector Of Police on 22 May, 2026
C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 22.05.2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL
CRL OP NOS.13278 AND 13279 OF 2026
CRL OP NO.13278 / 2026
Dr.Ponraj S/o. Vellaichamy
Permanent Address:
1/44, Thonugal, PO: Kalkurichi,
Virudhunagar – 626 104.
Temporary Address:
B1, Narmada Apartments,
Subramanian Street, Abiramapuram,
Chennai – 600 018. ... Petitioner / Accused
Vs.
State of Tamil Nadu
Represented by the Inspector of Police
Cuddalore New Town Police Station
Cuddalore.
(Crime No.194 of 2026) ... Respondent / Complainant
PRAYER:- Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 praying to grant pre-
arrest bail to the petitioner in the event of arrest by the respondent police
in Crime No.194 of 2026.
Page No.1 of 10
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026
CRL OP NO.13279 / 2026
Dr.Ponraj
S/o. Vellaichamy
Permanent Address:
1/44, Thonugal, PO: Kalkurichi,
Virudhunagar – 626 104.
Temporary Address:
B1, Narmada Apartments,
Subramanian Street,
Abiramapuram,
Chennai – 600 018. ... Petitioner / Accused
Vs.
State of Tamil Nadu
Represented by the Inspector of Police
CCB, Cyber Crime Wing,
Chennai.
(Crime No.59 of 2026) ... Respondent / Complainant
PRAYER:- Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 praying to grant
pre-arrest bail to the petitioner in the event of arrest by the respondent
police in Crime No.59 of 2026.
For Petitioner : Mr.N.R.Elango
(in both Crl.OPs’) Senior Counsel
Assisted by Mr.Agilesh Kumar
For Respondent : Mr.R.John Sathyan
(in both Crl.OPs’) Public Prosecutor
Page No.2 of 10
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026
COMMON ORDER
Apprehending arrest at the hands of the respondents-police, for the alleged offences under Sections 79, 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 read with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, 1998 read with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in connection with Crime No.194 of 2026 on the file of the Cuddalore New Town Police Station and for the alleged offences under Sections 79, 296(b) and 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in connection with Crime No.59 of 2026, on the file of the CCB, Cyber Crime Wing, Chennai, the petitioner / accused seeks pre-arrest bail.
2. Case of the prosecution is that, on March 27, 2026, the petitioner / accused gave an interview on a YouTube Channel by name "King 360", wherein he made derogatory statements against women supporting / belonging to the IT Wing of a particular political party regarding them as prostitutes, knowing well that his statement would incite public outrage. Hence the criminal cases.
3. Mr.N.R.Elango, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner / accused in both the Criminal Original Petitions, would submit that the petitioner is a senior scientist, a public policy advisor who had inter-alia Page No.3 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026 served as an advisor on Science and Technology and Public Policy to former Hon'ble President Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and also a respectable personality in the society. In recent times, he has also been an active and responsible political commentator. The petitioner had no intent to defame or insult the modesty of women. The petitioner's statements were made only to express his dissatisfaction about youngsters especially women blindly being politically influenced by cinema. The statement was made in the best interest of the society to prompt analytical political thinking among youngsters rather than blind celebrity worship in politics. However, his statements were mis-quoted. The petitioner's statements were general in nature and were not about any particular identified cult or group of women. Further, being a responsible citizen and political commentator, the YouTube channel interview video in which the statements were made was removed from the public domain, notably even before the complaint. Further, the learned Senior Counsel would submit that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not necessary given the nature of the offences alleged against him. Further, the petitioner has deep roots in the society and will extend his full co-operation with the investigation agency. The petitioner is also ready to abide by any conditions that may be Page No.4 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026 imposed by this Court. Accordingly, the learned Counsel seeks anticipatory bail for the petitioner / accused in both the criminal cases.
4. Opposing the above submissions, Mr.John Sathyan, learned Senior Counsel for the respondents in both the Criminal Original Petitions, would submit that the petitioner / accused's speech clearly attracts the offences alleged against him. The petitioner / accused's ultimate intention behind his defamatory statements was to support a particular political party, by defaming another and its members. The learned Senior Counsel further would point out that though the original interview video was removed from "King 360" YouTube channel, material portions of the same are still being circulated in the public forum. Taking down the video would not remedy the damage that has already been caused. The petitioner / accused is very well aware of the fact that such statements of derogatory nature would cause mischief and public outrage in the society; if not, the petitioner / accused who claims to be a responsible political commentator ought to have foreseen the consequences of his derogatory statements. The learned State Public Prosecutor would also contend that if pre-arrest bail is granted to the petitioner / accused, it could potentially encourage others to make such defamatory and irresponsible statements in the public forum and thereby cause a disorderly state in the society and also lead to law & Page No.5 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026 order issues. Accordingly, the learned State Public Prosecutor would vehemently object to grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner / accused and seek dismissal of the Criminal Original Petitions.
5. This Court has considered both sides' submissions and perused the materials available on record.
6. The intent of the petitioner / accused behind the material statements is a matter for trial and no comments can be expressed on the same at this stage by this Court. However, the petitioner / accused who claims to be a respectable personality in the society and a responsible political commentator, should be very careful during a public interview understanding the potential impact of his words and how they would be received by the general public. In today's digital era, once a statement is made, that too in a digital platform, it cannot be easily withdrawn. Though the petitioner / accused claims his statement to be one of societal interest, he ought to have exercised utmost care and caution before making a statement which could turn out to be morally provocative one. A person who claims to be of a high stature, must exercise some self-restriction before expressing / delivering words in public forum. Page No.6 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026
7. Nonetheless, considering the nature of the offences alleged against the petitioner / accused and the facts and circumstances of this case, as well as the fact that the petitioner has deep roots in the society and his possibility of absconding is less, this Court is of the considered view that custodial interrogation may not be necessary for the investigation agency in both the criminal cases. Hence, this Court is inclined to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner / accused however subject to certain conditions.
8. Accordingly, pre-arrest bail is granted to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:
(i) In each criminal case, the petitioner shall execute a bond for Rs.25,000/- along with two sureties for a like sum of Rs.25,000/-
each, before the concerned Jurisdictional Magistrate;
(ii) In respect of Crime No.194 of 2026, the petitioner shall appear and sign before Cuddalore New Town Police Station weekly once, on Sunday at 10:00 a.m., until further orders;
(iii) In respect of Crime No.59 of 2026, the petitioner / accused shall appear and sign before C.C.B. Cyber Crime Wing Chennai weekly Page No.7 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026 twice, on every Tuesday and Friday at 10:00 a.m., until further orders;
(iv) The petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required;
(v) The petitioner shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer;
(vi) The petitioner shall also not, directly or indirectly, cause any threat to the witnesses and shall not tamper the evidence;
(vii) The petitioners shall furnish their residential address and mobile number to the concerned jurisdictional Magistrate;
(viii) On breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, the learned jurisdictional Magistrate or Trial Court, as the case may be, is entitled to pass appropriate orders against the petitioners in accordance with law as if the aforementioned conditions are Page No.8 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026 imposed by them as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K. Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005) 13 SCC 283].
8. Accordingly, these Criminal Original Petitions are allowed subject to the conditions stated supra.
22.05.2026 TK Note:
1. Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order in the Official Website of this Court.
2. All concerned to act on this order being uploaded in Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code.Page No.9 of 10
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.L. O.P. NOs.13278 & 13279 OF 2026 R.SAKTHIVEL, J.
TK To
1.The Judicial Magistrate – I Cuddalore.
2.The Chief Judicial Magistrate Egmore.
3.The Inspector of Police Cuddalore New Town Police Station Cuddalore.
4.The Inspector of Police CCB, Cyber Crime Wing, Chennai.
5.The Public Prosecutor Madras High Court.
CRL OP NOS.13278 AND 13279 OF 2026 22 / 05 / 2026 Page No.10 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis