SUPREME COURT GRANTS PRE-ARREST BAIL TO TAMIL NADU MLA JEGAN MOORTHY IN KIDNAPPING CASE:

The Supreme Court of India on Monday granted anticipatory bail to "Poovai" Jegan Moorthy, a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing KV Kuppam in Tamil Nadu, in connection with a case alleging his involvement in the abduction of a minor boy. The case arises from a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Thiruvallur Police based on a complaint by one Lakshmi, who alleged that her younger son was abducted by miscreants connected to a family dispute.

The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Justice Manoj Mishra and Justice N.K. Singh. The bench was hearing an appeal challenging the order of the Madras High Court, which had earlier dismissed Jegan Moorthy’s plea for anticipatory bail. After considering the submissions made by the petitioner’s counsel, the Supreme Court agreed to issue notice in the matter and granted interim protection by way of anticipatory bail.

The Court observed that the matter required consideration and hence issued notice to the respondents. Pending further proceedings, the Court directed that in the event of Jegan Moorthy’s arrest in connection with FIR No. 101/2025, registered at Thiruvalangadu Police Station and renumbered as C.R. No. 1/2025, he should be released on a personal bond of ₹25,000. This relief was granted on the condition that Moorthy fully cooperates with the ongoing investigation and refrains from tampering with evidence or attempting to influence any witnesses.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, along with Senior Advocate S. Prabhakaran, represented the petitioner. They argued that there was no material to indicate that the abducted individual had ever been in the possession or control of Jegan Moorthy. They asserted that the allegations against Moorthy were made with mala fide intent and were politically motivated. The counsel further contended that even if it were assumed that Moorthy had interacted with one of the parties involved in the dispute, it could only be viewed in the context of a possible effort to mediate or resolve the conflict. They also emphasized that the nature of the case did not warrant custodial interrogation of the MLA.

The complaint at the heart of the case was lodged by Lakshmi, who stated that her elder son had married a girl without obtaining the consent of her family. Following the marriage, both her son and his wife went into hiding due to opposition from the girl’s family. According to Lakshmi, the girl’s relatives, accompanied by certain unidentified miscreants, forcefully entered her home in search of the couple. Failing to locate them, the group allegedly abducted her younger son, who was 18 years old. He was later released near a hotel and found with visible injuries.

Initially, the FIR was filed under Sections 189(2), 329(4), and 140(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). However, based on an alleged confession made by one of the co-accused, the charges were revised to include Sections 189(2), 332(b), 140(1), and 61(2) of the BNS. The plea before the Supreme Court was filed with the assistance of Advocate-on-Record (AOR) Ram Sankar.

Notably, this case also involves other high-profile individuals. In a recent related development, the Supreme Court had stayed the Madras High Court's direction for the arrest of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) HM Jayaram, who was allegedly connected to the same incident. With the Supreme Court’s interim protection, Jegan Moorthy now awaits further proceedings as the investigation continues.