(Prayer: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to direct the respondent Police to file the final report in the above case in Crime No.310 of 2025 pending on the file of the respondent Police as early as possible.)

1. The petitioner/defacto complainant in Crime No.310 of 2025 on the file of the respondent Police filed this petition seeking direction to file final report at the earliest.

2. The gist of the case is that the petitioner lodged a complaint before the respondent Police stating that he was living alone in his house and on 14.08.2025 at about 05.40 p.m., he locked his house and left for work. After return from his work at about 07.30 p.m., he found grill gate lock broke open and the main door of the house also forcibly broke open. The bureau kept in the bedroom forcibly opened, all clothes and other articles found scattered. He further found that the cash of Rs.50,000/- kept in the bureau found missing, along with the gold ornaments viz., one bracelet weighing 2 sovereigns, one tiger-tooth model gold dollar weighing 1 sovereign, one pair of stone-studded gold earrings weighing 1 sovereign, one pair of gold mattal earrings weighing 1 sovereign, five gold rings weighing 1 sovereign in total, four gold quartersovereign coins, and gold thali components. On the complaint of the petitioner, an FIR in Crime No.310 of 2025 registered on 14.08.2025 for the offences under Sections 331(3) and 305(a) of BNS.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that on enquiry and verification with the neighbours and from the CCTV footage, it is found that two persons came in a motorbike and found moving in a suspicious manner. One of them standing outside the house in guard and the other entered the house, committed the theft and decamped with the stolen articles. He further submitted that the respondent Police informed about the CCTV recordings, and the recordings collected. Further, sniffer dog pressed into service, and the fingerprint expert visited the scene of occurrence and collected the fingerprints available at the scene of occurrence. Thereafter to, no action taken. The petitioner lost cash of Rs.50,000/- and gold jewels weighing 7 sovereigns. Despite all the information furnished, the Police not taken any effective action. Hence, the petitioner filed this petition.

4. Learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent Police filed counter. From the counter, it is seen that the Investigating Officer went to the scene of occurrence, prepared the Observation Mahazar, Rough Sketch, examined the witnesses present as well as the petitioner/defacto complainant and recorded their statements. The Investigating Officer took the services of the dog squad, examined the scene of occurrence, collected the CCTV footage available near the place of occurrence, and continued with the investigation. During the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer studied the history-sheeted accused finger print and made enquiries with known criminals in the district, but no clue obtained. Further, a special team formed and prison records verified, but no clue could be obtained. The fingerprints taken from the scene of occurrence analysed and it was found that they tallied with one Arun @ Poochi Irulappan, son of Masanam, a history-sheeted accused. The said Arun @ Poochi Irulappan involved in 15 cases, and NBWs pending against him before various Courts. A special team formed to secure the accused went to the native place of the accused at Sivagangai, but he was not available. Thereafter, the special team went to the house of Poomani, the sister of the said Arun @ Poochi Irulappan, near Puzhal Prison, Chennai, but no clue obtained. He further submitted that in this case, the investigation progressed, scientific evidence collected, the accused identified, and the charge sheet will be filed soon.

5. This Court not satisfied with the counter and directed the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) to produce the Case Diary and the same was produced.

6. On perusal of the Case Diary, it is seen that in this case, the respondent Police visited the scene of occurrence on 14.08.2025 and 15.08.2025, collected chance fingerprints, sent the collected fingerprints for forensic examination, took photographs of the scene of occurrence, prepared the Observation Mahazar and Rough Sketch, examined witnesses LW1 to LW9, and recorded their statements. On 10.10.2025, the involvement of Arun @ Poochi Irulappan confirmed who is a native of Thalikulam Village, Thirubuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai District. It was also found that the accused involved in several cases registered in Kancheepuram Taluk Police Station, Sunguvarchatram Police Station, Vishnu Taluk Police Station, Wallajabad Police Station, and other places.

7. On 14.11.2025, a special team sent to arrest the accused, and further enquiry made with the sister of the accused. On 15.11.2025, enquiries made with the other Police Stations. On 05.12.2025, enquiries again made. On 06.01.2026, enquiries made with the other Police Stations, and on 10.02.2026, the special team went in search of the accused. Further, request made to the Courts in which the cases against Arun @ Poochi Irulappan are pending to intimate the Police about the surfacing of the accused. On 29.03.2026, a search again made for the accused. On 15.04.2026, 07.05.2026, and 11.06.2026, enquiries made to ascertain the whereabouts of the accused. Thereafter, the call detail records of the accused and other suspects collected, and the investigation is in progress.

8. Today, the Sub-Inspector of Police attached to the respondent Police appeared and produced the information sheet confirming accused Arun @ Poochi Irulappan is a history-sheeted rowdy in Palayanur Police Station in H.S.No.84 of 2021. Further, FIR dated 01.04.2026 in Crime No.153 of 2026 produced showing that the accused arrested in that case under the NDPS Act and he is presently in prison. The remand report in the said case was also produced. From the remand report submitted before the District Munsif-cum- Judicial Magistrate, Thirubuvanam in Crime No.153 of 2026, it is seen that the accused Arun @ Poochi Irulappan in his confession admitted his involvement in 17 cases including the present case in Crime No.310 of 2025. It is seen that the fingerprints of the accused matched as early as on 15.08.2025. Thereafter, though it is recorded in the Case Diary that on several dates steps taken to apprehend the accused, till yesterday the respondent Police unable to collect any substantive information except recording in the Case Diary that special teams went to the residence of the accused and to his sister's house to arrest him and nothing more. Added to it, the call detail records of Arun @ Poochi Irulappan confirmed the constant touch with the accused gang. The electronic evidence not further probed which needs attention and further probe.

9. Only after this Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the counter filed and informed that the case could be transferred for effective and substantial investigation, the respondent Police informed this Court that the accused Arun @ Poochi Irulappan already arrested in Crime No.153 of 2026. The respondent Police ought to have brought this fact to the notice of this Court much earlier coming to know that the accused arrested and remanded in Crime No.153 of 2026 as early as on 01.04.2026. Further, it is to be seen that, after collecting the CCTV footage, whether the same was analysed, verified, properly secured, and preserved, and whether a certificate under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act obtained, is not known. All these aspects are lacking. The Investigating Officer ought to have recorded the same by contemporaneous document and sent the CCTV footage for forensic examination for confirmation. According to the petitioner, the CCTV footage shows the movement of two persons on a motorbike, and from the vehicle registration number, the identity of the accused all clearly found. Further, the accused, Arun @ Poochi Irulappan, is not acting in isolation. He commits offences along with his associates, namely, Ponnaiya, Sakthivel, Dharmaraj @ Dharmar, Vicky @ Vigneshwaran, Azhagupandi, Vinothkannan, and others. What steps so far taken by the Police to identify the associates of the accused and to recover the stolen articles, there is no answer. The custodial interrogation of Arun @ Poochi Irulappan is very much required, but no steps taken so far in this regard.

10. In view of the above facts, this Court directs the respondent Police to immediately take Arun @ Poochi Irulappan into custodial interrogation. The investigation shall be carried out by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Chengalpet under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Chengalpet since the accused Arun @ Poochi Irulappan is involved in several cases in other districts. Hence, the Superintendent of Police, Chengalpet to monitor the investigation and to effectively coordinate with the other district Police Officers to unravel the truth and secure all persons involved in the crime. It appears that the accused Arun @ Poochi Irulappan are part of a well-organised gang operating in a concert, committing offences not only in Chengalpet District but also in other districts. To effectively put under control such criminal activities and to bring all offenders before law, such coordination and supervision are necessary.

11. With the above direction, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of.