Madras High Court
CRL OP/7658/2026 of SHOBHA DURAIRAJAN Vs The State Rep by, The Inspector of Police on 27 October 2026
CRL OP No. 7658 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 27-10-2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN
CRL OP No. 7658 of 2026
CNR:{HCMA010475372026}
and
CRL OP No. 7846 of 2026
1. Shobha Durairajan
Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The State Rep by, The Inspector of
Police
Idol Wing CID, North Zone, PTC
Campus, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600
083.
Respondent(s)
CRL OP No. 7846 of 2026
CNR:{HCMA010475382026}
1. Shobha Durairajan
Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. State Represented by Inspector of
Police,
Campus, Ashok Nagar, Chennai -
600083.
Respondent(s)
CRL OP No. 7658 of 2026
PRAYER
To direct the Respondent to provide safe and proper custody of the properties seized in F.I.R. vide Cr. No. F.I.R. No.58 of 2022 on the file of the Inspector of
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CRL OP No. 7658 of 2026
Police, Idol Wing CID, North Zone, Ashok Nagar, Chennai and pass such further orders or other orders as this Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice.
CRL OP No. 7846 of 2026
PRAYER
To direct the Respondent to provide safe and proper custody of the properties seized in F.I.R. Vide Cr.No.F.I.R.No.58 of 2022 on the file of the Inspector of Police Idol Wing CID, North Zone, Ashok Nagar, Chennai and pass such further orders or other orders as this Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr. K.P. Anantha Krishna
for
Mr. R.S.Diwaagar
For Respondent(s):
Mr. A. Amarnath
Additional Public Prosecutor
COMMON ORDER
These petitions have been filed for a direction to direct the respondent to provide safe and proper custody of the properties, which were seized, pursuant to registration of F.I.R. in Crime No.58 of 2022 on the file of the respondent.
2. On a complaint, the respondent registered F.I.R. in Crime No.58 of 2022 under Sections 41 (1) (d) and 102 of Criminal Procedure Code, alleging that the petitioner had purchased several idols. The said idols were verified with the HR & CE Department. Therefore, all the 17 idols were seized from the petitioner and produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kumbakonam on 04.01.2024 and it was assigned number as case property No.6 of 2023. Thereafter, the idols were kept in Icon Center of Thiru Nageswara
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CRL OP No. 7658 of 2026 Swamy Temple, Kumbakonam for safe custody, which is guarded 24x7 by Armed Reserve Police as per the order of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kumbakonam.
3. A perusal of the counter submitted by the Public Prosecutor reveals that the seized stone idols, metal idols, Tanjore Paintings were produced before the Archaeological Survey of India for inspection. Out of the 70 idols, only 57 idols were certified as Antique and the remaining 13 idols were found to be non- antique. Among these idols, 44 stone idols, 4 metal idols, 3 wooden artifacts and 6 Tanjore paintings were registered at Archaeological Survey of India Department by the petitioner. Other 26 idols are not having registration certificates.
4. Considering the fact that, all the metal idols, Tanjore paintings, wooden artifacts were secured under safe custody as directed by the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kumbakonam, the petitioner is at liberty to approach the Court Concerned to seek return of properties. The respondent is directed to give the list of properties, which were not antique to the petitioner within a period of two weeks from today so that the petitioner can file a petition for return of properties, which are not antique in nature.
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CRL OP No. 7658 of 2026
5. With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition is closed. 27-10-2026 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No ab To
1. The State Rep by, The Inspector of Police Idol Wing CID, North Zone, PTC Campus, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600
083. ( Uploaded on: 02/11/2026 01:33:19 pm )
CRL OP No. 7658 of 2026 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN J. ab CRL OP No. 7658 of and CRL OP No. 7846 of
27-10-2026
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