Madurai Bench of Madras HC: Bail Granted in Thoothukudi POCSO Case with Sentence Paused

Quick Summary: T.Kannan, accused in a POCSO case in Thoothukudi, gets bail after his sentence is put on hold by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on January 29, 2026.

The Case Background

T.Kannan was found guilty by the Special Court that handles cases under the POCSO Act in Thoothukudi. On March 17, 2023, he was sentenced in Special SC No.109 of 2019. The charges included:

• Section 450 IPC: 10 years in prison with hard labor and a fine of Rs. 5,000. If he doesn't pay the fine, he would have to spend an extra 6 months in prison.
• Section 305 IPC: Life in prison with a fine of Rs. 5,000. Not paying this fine would also mean an extra 6 months in prison.

The Appeal for Bail

The request for bail was made under Section 430(1) and (2) of the BNSS. T.Kannan, represented by Mr. A.D. Ganeshamoorthi, asked to pause the sentence while the criminal appeal is being decided.

Court's Decision

On January 29, 2026, Judges G.K. Ilanthiraiyan and R. Poornima were in charge of the case. They decided to pause the sentence, allowing T.Kannan to be released on bail. The court said:

"The petitioner has shown enough reason to pause the sentence."

Conditions for Bail

The court set specific rules for T.Kannan's bail:

1. Bail Bond: He must provide a bond for Rs. 10,000 with two guarantors each for the same amount.
2. Identity Verification: Guarantors must provide photos, left thumb prints, and either Aadhar cards or bank passbooks.
3. Court Appearance: T.Kannan must show up and sign at the trial court at 10:30 am on the first working day of every month until the appeal is settled.

Next Steps

The court's decision allows T.Kannan temporary freedom while his appeal is ongoing. He must follow all the rules set by the court to keep his bail status.

This case shows how the legal system handles appeals and grants bail, making sure that fairness is maintained along with the rights of the accused.