Y.Gnana Ganesh vs The State Of Tamil Nadu on 3 July, 2026

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    Madras High Court

    Y.Gnana Ganesh vs The State Of Tamil Nadu on 3 July, 2026

    Author: R.Vijayakumar

    Bench: N. Sathish Kumar, S.Srimathy, R.Vijayakumar

                                                                    Crl.OP(MD).Nos.21999 of 2024 and 573 of 2025
    
    
    
    
                                 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
    
                                            ORDER RESERVED ON               : 17.06.2026
    
                                             ORDER PRONOUNCED ON : 03.07.2026
                                                       CORAM
    
                                      THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR
    
                                          Crl.OP(MD).Nos. 21999 of 2024 & 573 of 2025
                                        and Crl.MP(MD).Nos.13641 of 2024 & 371 of 2025
    
                         Crl.OP(MD).No.21999 of 2024
    
    
                         1.Y.Gnana Ganesh
    
                         2.T.Muruganantham                         ....Petitioners/Accused Nos.3 & 4
    
                                                              Vs
    
                         1.State of Tamil Nadu Represented by
                         The Inspector of Police
                         Anna Nagar Police Station
                         Madurai City
                         Crime No.708 of 2024
    
                         2.Ms.Hema Mala
                         Inspector of Police
                         AHRU/ACTU
                         Madurai City                     ....Respondent No.2/Defacto Complainant
    
                         Crl.OP(MD).No.573 of 2025:
    
                         1.S.Prem Kumar
    
                         2.S.Ponraj                      ....Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 an 2
    
                                                   Vs
    
    
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                                                                       Crl.OP(MD).Nos.21999 of 2024 and 573 of 2025
    
    
    
    
                         1.State Represented by
                         Inspector of Police
                         Anna Nagar Police Station
                         Madurai City
                         Crime No.708 of 2024                              ....Respondent No.1
    
                         2.Ms.Hema Mala
                         Inspector of Police
                         AHRU/ACTU
                         Madurai City                            ...Respondent No.2/Defacto Complainant
    
    
                         Prayer in Crl.OP(MD).No.21999 of 2024:The Criminal Original Petition
                         filed under Section 528 of Bharathiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Act, 2023, to
                         call for the records pertaining to the First Information Report in Crime No.
                         708 of 2024 dated 04.11.2024 on the file of the Respondent No.1 and quash
                         the same as illegal as against the petitioners.
                         Prayer in Crl.OP(MD).No.573 of 2025:The Criminal Original Petition filed
                         under Section 528 of Bharathiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Act, 2023, to call
                         for the records pertaining to the First Information Report in Crime No.708 of
                         2024 dated 04.11.2024 on the file of the Respondent No.1 and quash the
                         same as illegal as against the petitioners.
    
    
                         (In both petitions)
    
    
                                      For Petitioners   : Mr.T.Lajapathi Roy
                                                        Senior Counsel for M/s.Roy & Roy Associates
    
                                      For Respondents : Mr.P.Samuel Gunasingh
                                                      Government Advocate (Crl.side) for R1
    
    
    
    
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                                                                          Crl.OP(MD).Nos.21999 of 2024 and 573 of 2025
    
    
    
    
                                                         COMMON ORDER
    
    

    These two petitions have been filed by Accused Nos.1 to 4 in Crime

    No.708 of 2024 on the file of the Inspector of Police, Anna Nagar Police

    SPONSORED

    Station, Madurai City seeking to quash the F.I.R dated 04.11.2024 wherein

    they are alleged to have committed offences under Sections 3(2)(a), 4(2)(c),

    5(1)(d), 6(1)(b) of Immoral Traffic Act, 1956 (ITP Act).

    (A).Factual Matrix:

    2.A perusal of the F.I.R reveals that on receipt of secret information on

    04.11.2024 at about 1.45 p.m, the Special Sub Inspector of Police and two

    lady Head-Constables, after obtaining permission from the Assistant

    Commissioner of Police, have conducted a search in a Spa at Anna Nagar,

    Madurai. During search, it was found that two victim girls from Nagaland

    and Assam where found in half-nude position in two rooms where there were

    no facilities for conducting massage. There were no proper lighting and the

    rooms were kept locked from inside at the time of inspection. When it was

    enquired with the ladies found there, they informed that, under the guise of

    engaging them in the profession of massage, they have been brought here and

    compelled to indulge in prostitution.

    3.Accused Nos.1 and 2 are the manager and the receptionist of the Spa

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    and Accused Nos.3 and 4 are the partners who are running the Spa.

    Challenging the said F.I.R, the present petitions have been filed seeking to

    quash the same.

    (B).Contentions of the learned counsel appearing on either side:

    4.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted

    that the search was not conducted by the Special Police Officer as

    contemplated under Section 13 of ITP Act. The search have been conducted

    by a regular Police, is clearly without jurisdiction and the same is liable to be

    set aside.

    5.The learned Senior Counsel had further contended that as per Section

    15(2) of ITP Act, before making a search under Section 15(1), the Special

    Police Officer has to call for two or more respectable inhabitants (at least one

    of whom shall be a woman) of that locality to attend and witness the search.

    However, in the present case admittedly two or more respectable inhabitants

    have not accompanied before the officials. The said procedure being

    mandatory in nature and the search having been conducted in violation of the

    statutory provisions, the F.I.R registered on the basis of the said search is

    liable to be quashed.

    6.The learned Senior Counsel had relied upon a judgment of this Court

    reported (2019) 1 CTC 385 ( Kadek Dwi Ani Rasmini Vs. K.Natarajan,

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    Inspector of Police and others) wherein in paragraph Nos. 27 and 28, this

    Court was pleased to point out that the procedure contemplated under Section

    15(2) is mandatory and having not been followed was pleased to quash the

    proceedings.

    7.The learned Senior Counsel has also relied upon the following

    decisions rendered by this Court:

    (i)Crl.OP(MD).No.15863 of 2020 ( Mathan Franko and

    others Vs.State of Tamil Nadu Rep.by the Inspector of Police,

    Nesamony Nagar Police Station, Kanyakumari District and

    another) dated 03.04.2024;

    (ii)Crl.OP(MD).No.3657 of 2024 ( B.Manju and others

    Vs.The State of Tamil Nadu Rep.by the Inspector of Police,

    Arlvoimozhi Police Station, Kanyakumari District) dated

    11.09.2025;

    (iii)Crl.OP(MD).No.18737 of 2025 (Lawrance Vs. State of

    Tamil Nadu, Rep. by the Inspector of Police, Vadaseri Police

    Station, Nagercoil) dated 28.10.2025;

    (iv)Crl.OP(MD).No.17554 of 2025 ( Palaniyappa Perumal

    Vs. State of Tamil Nadu, Rep.by the Inspector of Police,

    Perumalpuram Police Station, Tirunelveli District and another)

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    dated 03.11.2025;

    (v)Crl.OP(MD).No.15586 of 2025 (Jeyasri Vs. The State of

    Tamil Nadu, Rep.by the Inspector of Police, Karaikudi North

    Police Station, Sivagangai District ) dated 05.11.2025;

    8.The learned Senior Counsel had also relied upon a

    decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court reported in 2026 INSC 609

    (Prajwala Vs. Union of India and others) dated 29.05.2026

    especially Paragraph No.362 Clause (b) (Initiation of rescue):

    Clause (x) and submitted that the mandatory nature of Section

    15(2) of ITP Act has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court

    and contended that in the present case, admittedly there being

    violation of the procedure contemplated under Section 15(2) of

    ITP Act, an F.I.R is liable to be quashed.

    9.The learned Senior Counsel had also relied upon a Division Bench

    Judgment of this Court in W.A.No.457 of 2020 ( K.Natraja Vs. Ms.Kadek

    Dwi Ani Rasmini and others) dated 18.07.2024 wherein the judgement

    reported in (2019) 1 CTC 385 has been confirmed. He specifically pointed

    out Paragraph Nos.14 and 15 of the said Division Bench Judgement in

    support of his contention.

    10.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners had also

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    relied upon the affidavit of five rescued victim girls, all dated 24.12.2024 and

    submitted that the police officials have threatened and obtained the statement

    from them on the date when search was conducted. In the said affidavit, it is

    stated that their signature was obtained in a statement which was in a

    language unknown to them and they were unable to understand and read and

    write Tamil language. By coercive way, they obtained signature from them.

    Relying upon the said affidavit, the learned Senior Counsel had contended

    that the statement of the alleged victim girls under Section 161 (3) Cr.P.C has

    been obtained by force and they have been threatened to sign the statement

    which was prepared in a language not known to them and therefore, it is clear

    that the entire allegation in the F.I.R is completely false and a case has been

    foisted as against the Spa. Hence, he prayed for quashing of the F.I.R as

    against all the accused persons.

    11. Per contra, the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing

    for the respondent submitted that after receiving secret information about the

    prostitution business in the premises, under the guise of running a massage

    centre, three lady police officers have conducted search and found that there

    were not indication of conducting massage and rooms were in a locked

    condition and the victim girls were found half-nude position when the Police

    Officers knocked the doors.

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    12.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) had further submitted

    that all the victims were having knowledge in English and the statements

    were recorded in English. The present affidavit obtained by the accused

    persons from the victim girl after registration of F.I.R would not have any

    evidenciary value. Based upon the said affidavit, the F.I.R cannot be quashed.

    13.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing for the

    respondents had further submitted that under G.O.Ms.618, Social Welfare

    Department, dated 13.04.1987, the State Government has pointed out every

    police officers not below the rank of the Inspector of Police to be the Special

    Police Officers under Section 13 of the ITP Act. In the present case, only the

    Inspector of Police along with three other lady Police Officers have

    conducted the search and therefore, there is no violation of Section 13 of ITP

    Act.

    14.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) had also relied upon

    the two decisions of this Court in Crl.OP(MD).No.133 of 2022 ( Arun Vs.

    State represented by the Inspector of Police, Ganesh Nagar Police Station,

    Pudukkottai District and another) dated 25.04.2022 and Crl.OP.No.922 of

    2021 (Hema Jwaalini and others Vs. The Commissioner of Police, Chennai

    City Police Commissionerate,Vepery, Chennai and others) dated 29.04.2022

    wherein two Learned Judges of this Court have taken note of the said

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    Government Order and have dismissed the quash petitions, rejecting the

    contentions that the Special Police Officer has not conducted search.

    15.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) had also relied upon

    the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court reported in 1969 (1) SCC 43 ( Bai

    Radha Vs. The State of Gujarat) especially the last paragraph and contented

    that any violation of Sections 15(1) and 15(2) of ITP Act, would not vitiate

    the proceedings unless and until some prejudice is shown to have been

    caused to the accused person. According to him, this Judgment was not

    brought to the notice of the other Hon’ble Benches which have dealt with

    similar cases.

    16.According to the learned Government Advocate (Crl.side), the

    alleged prejudice due to non-observance of Section 15(2) of ITP Act could

    be proved only during trial and the said ground cannot be a subject matter of

    the quash petition. He had also contended that Section 15(2) of ITP Act has

    been legislated only for the purpose safeguarding the privacy of the victim

    ladies. Even assuming that there was any violation, the same cannot be taken

    advantage of by the accused person and seek quashing of the F.I.R or the

    charge sheet on the said ground.

    17.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) had further contended

    that the procedure under Section 15(2) of the Act has to be followed only if

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    the premises to be searched is a residential premises. He relied upon

    Paragraph No.30 of the Order in Crl.OP.No.922 of 2021 dated 29.04.2022

    and Paragraph No.3 of the Order in Crl.OP.No.6295 of 2024 dated

    16.07.2024 in support of his contention. Therefore, according to him, when a

    commercial premises like that of Spa is being searched following the said

    procedure would not arise.

    18.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) had further submitted

    that the petitioners have applied for No Objection Certificate from the

    Superintendent of Police and the same was rejected in the Month of May

    2024 and the writ petition filed against the same is pending. The search has

    been conducted in the Month of November 2024. Therefore, it is clear that

    without obtaining any NOC from the jurisdictional police, the Spa has been

    conducted by the petitioners herein and in such circumstances, the petitioners

    cannot rely upon any judgment of this Court. Hence, he prayed for dismissal

    of the petition.

    19.Heard the learned counsels appearing on either side and perused the

    material records.

    (C).Discussion.

    20.Based upon the submissions made on either side, the following

    issues arise for consideration;

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    a)Whether the regular Police can be considered to be a

    Special Police Officer as contemplated under Section 13 of the

    ITP Act to conduct a search or arrest without warrant as

    contemplated under Sections 14 and 15 of the ITP Act?

    b)Whether it is mandatory to follow the safeguard under

    Section 15(2) of ITP Act in respect of a search conducted in a

    commercial premises.?

    c)If the procedure contemplated under Section 15(2) of

    ITP Act is mandatory, whether non-observance or non-

    compliance of the same would vitiate the registration of F.I.R or

    the charge sheet?

    d)Whether affidavit filed on behalf of the victims after

    registration of F.I.R can be taken into consideration?

    21.The Special Police Officer as contemplated under Section 13 of

    ITP Act:

    (i).The Tamil Nadu Government had issued G.O.Ms.618, Social

    Welfare Department, dated 13.04.1987 exercising their powers under Section

    13 of the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956

    thereby appointing every police officer not below the rank of Inspector of

    Police to be the Special Police Officers for dealing with the offences under

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    Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Under the said order, the

    Government has further pointed out that every Police Officer (including a

    women Police Officer wherever necessary) not below the rank of

    Jurisdictional Subordinate Police Officer to assist the Special Police Officer

    concerned.

    22.In the light of the above said Government Order, it is clear that the

    Inspector of Police has been appointed as Special Police Officer under

    Section 13 of ITP Act. In the present case, a perusal of the F.I.R reveals that

    the Inspector of Police, Anti-Human and Child Trafficking Unit (AHTU),

    Madurai City along with the lady Special Sub Inspector and two lady Head-

    Constables had conducted a search in the Spa. In such circumstances, this

    Court is of the considered opinion that the police officials having jurisdiction

    alone have conducted the search and therefore, the ground raised in these

    lines by the learned Senior Counsel, cannot be countenanced.

    23. Whether procedure contemplated under Section 15(2) is
    mandatory in respect of commercial premises:

    (i).Sections 15(1) and 15(2) of Immoral Traffic
    (Prevention) Act, 1956 are extracted hereunder for better
    appreciation:

    “15.Search without warrant.—(1).Notwithstanding
    anything contained in any other law for the time being in force,
    whenever the special police officer [or the trafficking police

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    officer, as the case may be], has reasonable grounds for
    believing that an offence punishable under this Act has been or
    is being committed in respect of a [person] living in any
    premises, and that search of the premises with warrant cannot be
    made without undue delay, such officer may, after recording the
    grounds of his belief, enter and search such premises without a
    warrant.

    (2) Before making a search under sub-section (1), the
    special police officer [or the trafficking police officer, as the
    case may be,] shall call upon two or more respectable
    inhabitants (at least one of whom shall be a woman) of the
    locality in which the place to be searched is situate, to attend
    and witness the search, and may issue an order in writing to
    them or any of them so to do:

    [Provided that the requirement as to the respectable
    inhabitants being from the locality in which the place to be
    searched is situate shall not apply to a woman required to attend
    and witness the search.]”

    (iii).Our High Court in a judgment reported in (2015) 1 CTC 702

    (Mr.S.Rangaraj & others V.s The Commissioner of Police Chennai City,

    Chennai and others) while considering Section 15 was pleased to observe as

    follows:

    Paragraph No.28 of the said judgment is extracted hereunder:

    “28.A careful look at the provisions of Section 15 would
    show that a Special Police Officer or a Trafficking Police Officer

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    can enter upon any premises and cause a search without warrant,
    only after satisfying the following:

    (i)he should have reasonable grounds for believing that an
    offence punishable under this Act has been or is being
    committed;

    (ii)he must believe that such an offence is committed in
    respect of a person living in the premises;

    (iii)he should believe that the search of the premises with
    warrant cannot be made without undue delay; and

    (iv)he must record the grounds of his belief before entering
    the premises;”

    (iv).Another learned Judge of this Court while considering Section

    15(2) of ITP Act in a judgment reported in 2022 SCC Online Mad 1960

    (Hema Jwaalini and others Vs.Commissioner of Police and others) in

    Paragraph Mno.30 has held as follows:

    “30.The nature of place under search viz., residential or
    commercial has got some impact in compliance of Section 15(2)
    of the Act and when it happens to a residential place, the
    safeguard provided by Section 15(2) of the Act comes into play
    whereas, in the case on hand, the place where the search was
    conducted is not a residential one and it is only a commercial
    place. “

    (v).Another learned Judge of this Court in a judgment rendered in

    Crl.OP.No.6295 of 2024 (Balaji Vs. State Rep.by the Inspector of Police, E-1

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    Mylapore Police Station, Chennai) dated 16.07.2024 in Paragraph No.3 has

    held as follows:

    “3.It is contending that the mandatory provision of Section
    15(1)
    of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 not been
    complied with, the present petition is filed to quash the FIR. The
    protection from conducting search or raid of a living place if any
    person alone is been restricted under Section 15(1) of Immoral
    Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and not a commercial premises…..”

    24.A careful perusal of Section 15(1) of the Act reveals that when a

    Special Police Officer has reasonable grounds for believing an offence

    punishable under ITP Act is being committed in respect of a person living in

    any premises, they can conduct search without warrant after recording his

    grounds of belief. Section 15(2) points out that before making a search under

    Section 15(1), the special police officer shall call upon two or more

    respectable inhabitants (at least one of whom shall be a woman) of that

    locality to attend and witness the search. Therefore, it is clear that the

    procedure contemplated under Section 15(2) of the Act for calling upon two

    or more respectable inhabitants to attend the witness search would arise, only

    if the premises referred to under Section 15(1) of the Act is going to be

    searched. The premises referred to under Section 15(1) of the Act is a place

    where a person living. Hence, it is clear that the procedure contemplated

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    under Section 15(2) of the Act would apply only with regard to the residential

    premises and not to a commercial premises. This finding is supported by the

    decisions of this Court by three other Learned Judges cited supra.

    25.The Hon’ble Supreme Court in a judgment reported in 1969 (1)
    SCC 43 ( Bai Radha Vs. The State of Gujaraj) while considering Section
    15(1)
    and 15(2) of ITP Act, in the final paragraph has held as follows:

    “In conclusion, it may be observed that the
    investigating agencies cannot and ought not to show
    complete disregard of such provisions as are contained in
    sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 15 of the Act. The
    legislature in its wisdom provided special safeguards owing
    to the nature of the premises which have to be searched
    involving inroads on the privacy of citizens and handling of
    delicate situations in respect of females. But the entire
    proceedings and the trial do not become illegal and vitiated
    owing to the non-observance of or non-compliance with the
    direction contained in the aforesaid provisions. The court,
    however, has to be very careful and circumspect in weighing
    the evidence where there has been such a failure on the part
    of the investigating agency but unless and until some
    prejudice is shown to have been caused to the accused
    person or persons the conviction and the sentence cannot be
    set aside…..”

    26.In the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court cited supra, it has

    been pointed out that the legislature in its wisdom provided special

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    safeguards owing to the nature of the premises which have to be searched

    involving inroads on the privacy of citizens and handling of delicate

    situations in respect of females.

    27.The object and purpose of Section 15(2) of ITP Act is to protect the

    privacy of the victim and to prevent conducting avoidable searches in the

    residential premises which may bring disrepute to the inmates of the building

    in that locality. The said provision is not in any way meant to protect the

    rights of the accused persons who are found to be involving in procuring the

    victim girl or conducting a brothel house. Therefore, when a purposive

    interpretation is given to Section 15(2) r/w Section 15(1) of ITP Act, the

    persons accused of the offence under ITP Act would not be entitled to raise

    such a defence, especially for the purpose of quashing of the F.I.R or the

    charge sheet on the said ground.

    28.Whether non-observance of procedure contemplated under
    Section 15(2) of ITP Act could be a ground for quashing of the F.I.R or
    the charge sheet.?

    (i).The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Bai Radha case cited supra has

    pointed out that the entire proceedings or trial do not become illegal or

    vitiated owing to non-observance of or non-compliance of Section 15(1) and

    15(2) of the Act, but the trial Court has to carefully consider the case of

    failure to follow Sections 15(1) and 15(2) of ITP Act.

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    (ii).The Hon’ble Supreme Court had further pointed out that unless and

    until some prejudice is shown to have been caused to the accused person, the

    conviction or the sentence cannot be set aside. Therefore, it is clear that the

    prejudice that is alleged to have been caused to the accused person due to

    non-observance of Section 15(2) of the Act has to be established and the

    same can be done only during trial. In such circumstances, the contention of

    non-observance of Section 15(2) of ITP Act cannot be raised as a ground for

    quashing of the F.I.R or the charge sheet.

    29.Affidavit of the victims:

    (i).A stereotyped affidavits sworn by the victim girls rescued from the

    Spa premises have been filed wherein the victim girls have stated that the

    statements were recorded in a language unknown to them and they were

    threatened by the police to sign the statement. As rightly pointed out by the

    learned Government Advocate (Crl.side), the statement of the victim girls has

    already been recorded by the Jurisdictional Magistrate under Section 164 of

    Cr.P.C. In such circumstances, the affidavit now annexed to the quash

    petition, cannot be relied upon to disbelieve the case of the prosecution and

    the same could only be subject matter of trial.

    30.The Judgements cited by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for

    the petitioners have not taken into consideration the Judgment of the Three

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    Judges Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court cited supra, (Bai Radha‘s case)

    and therefore, this Court is not inclined to follow the other judgments cited

    by the petitioners, wherein Bai Radha‘s case has not been brought to their

    notice.

    31.No Objection Certificate from police and licence from local body:

    (i).As per Rule 299 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023

    (which came into force on 12.04.2023), the petitioner is bound to obtain a

    licence for running a Spa. As contemplated Rule 299(6), No Objection

    Certificate from the Commissioner of Police, having jurisdiction over the area

    has to be obtained before granting of any licence. In the present case, the

    petitioner had applied for No Objection Certificate to the jurisdictional police

    and the same was rejected in May 2024. Challenging the same, the petitioners

    had preferred a writ petition and the same is pending. However, the petitioner

    has continued to run the Spa without NOC from the police or a licence from

    the concerned local body. The search has been conducted in November 2024,

    when Spa was conducted without any licence or NOC from the respondent

    police. In such circumstances, the judgments relied upon by the learned

    counsel for the petitioners would not come to the rescue, wherein the Spas

    were conducted after obtaining proper licence.

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    (D).Conclusion:

    32.In view of the above said deliberations, there are no merits in the

    petitions and both the Criminal Original Petitions stand dismissed.

    Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

    
    
                                                                                                       03.07.2026
    
    
                         Internet : Yes/No
                         Index : Yes/No
                         NCC        : Yes/No
                         msa
    
    
                         To
    
                         1.The Inspector of Police
                         Anna Nagar Police Station
                         Madurai City
                         Crime No.708 of 2024
    
                         2.The Additional Public Prosecutor
                         Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
                         Madurai
    
    
    
    
                         20/21
    
    
    https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
                                                     Crl.OP(MD).Nos.21999 of 2024 and 573 of 2025
    
    
    
    
                                                                   R.VIJAYAKUMAR, J.
    
    
                                                                                            msa
    
    
    
    
                                          Crl.OP(MD).Nos. 21999 of 2024 & 573 of 2025
                                      and Crl.MP(MD).Nos.13641 of 2024 & 371 of 2025
    
    
    
    
                                                                                   03.07.2026
    
    
    
                         21/21
    
    
    https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
    



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