Andhra Pradesh High Court
CRLP/9018/2026 of Sugali Gopal Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh on 8 October 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3504] FRIDAY, THE 9th DAY OF OCTOBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 9018/2026 Between: 1. SUGALI GOPAL, S/O S. SEENAPPA, AGED ABOUT 68
APHC010537812026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
AT AMARAVATI
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
FRIDAY, THE 9th DAY OF OCTOBER 2026
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM
CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 9018/2026
Between:
1. SUGALI
GOPAL,
S/O
S.
SEENAPPA,
AGED
ABOUT
YEARS.D.NO.2/109/9,
R.S.
PENDEKALLUVILLAGE,
TUGGALI
MANDAL, KURNOOL DISTRICT.
2. SUGALI PRAMEELAMMA, W/O S. GOPAL, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS.
D.NO.2/109/9, R.S. PENDEKALLUVILLAGE, TUGGALI MANDAL, KURNOOL DISTRICT.
3. SUGALI
BRAMHAIAH,
S/O
S.
GOPAL,
AGED
ABOUT
YEARS.D.NO.2/109/9,
R.S.
PENDEKALLUVILLAGE,
TUGGALI
MANDAL, KURNOOL DISTRICT.
4. SUGALI BRAMHINI, W/O S. BRAMHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 23
YEARS.PETITIONERS D.NO.2/109/9, R.S. PENDEKALLUVILLAGE, TUGGALI MANDAL, KURNOOL DISTRICT.
5. SUGALI PUNYAVATHI, W/O S. RAMANJINEYULU, AGED ABOUT 35
YEARS,R/O SINGAMPALLI THANDA, ATMAKUR MANDAL.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S)
AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC
PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH,AMARAVATHI.
2. S GNANIKA, W/O. SUGALI VIJAY,R/O. KUDEM VILLAGE AND
MANDAL,ANANTHAPURAMU DISTRICT.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S):
Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Court quash the proceedings insofar as the Petitioners/Respond(mt Nos.2 to 6 are concerned in D.V.C. No.3 of 2026 on the file of the Hon'ble Special Mobile Magistrate of First Class, Ananthapuramu, IA NO: 1 OF 2026
Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Court may be pleased stay all further proceedings insofar as the Petitioners/Respondent Nos.2 to 6 are concerned in D.V.C. No.3 of 2026 on the file of the Hon'ble Special Mobile Magistrate of First Class, Ananthapuramu, Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S):
1. P MADHUKAR REDDY
Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S):
1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 9018 of 2026
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ORDER:-
Instant Criminal Petition, under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed on behalf of the petitioners herein, seeking to quash the proceedings in DVC No.3 of 2026 on the file of the learned Special Mobile Magistrate of First Class, Anantapur, claiming reliefs under Section 12, 18, 19, 20 & 22 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of respondent No.2-State.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners, after arguing for some time, has confined his argument to the extent of dispensing with the presence of the petitioners before the trial Court by submitting petitioners’ practical constraints in attending before the trial Court and states that petitioners shall not dispute her identity at a later stage of proceedings.
4. On the other hand, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor contended that specific accusations have been made as against the petitioners herein and truth or otherwise of the said accusations has to be decided during the course of trial, hence, there are no grounds to quash the proceedings at this stage. So far as dispensing with the presence of the petitioners, before the trial Court, he has not opposed the same.
5. Since there are specific accusations that have been made as against the petitioners herein, which are all disputed questions of fact, the same can be decided during the course of trial, and this Court, in a petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023 corresponding to Section 482 Cr.P.C., would not be in a position to conduct roving enquiry into the disputed questions of fact and quash the proceedings at this stage.
6. In this context, it is apt to note the dictum held in State of Uttar Pradesh and Another Vs. Akhil Sharda and Others1, by the Apex Court in its vivid terms in the following way:
7. Having gone through the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court by which the High Court has set aside the criminal proceedings in exercise of powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., it appears that the High Court has virtually conducted a mini trial, which as such is not permissible at this stage and while deciding the application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. As observed and held by this Court in a catena of decisions no mini trial can be conducted by the High Court in exercise of powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., jurisdiction and at the stage of deciding the application under Section 482 Cr.P.C., the High Court cannot get into appreciation of evidence of the particular case being considered.
7. In Vishal Shah Vs. Monalisha Gupta & Ors.2, Hon’ble Apex Court has observed that there is no requirement for the personal appearance of any party in the proceedings under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, because 1 2022 LiveLaw (SC) 594 2 2025 Live Law (SC) 240
they are quasi-criminal in nature and do not entail any penal consequences, except when there is a breach of a protection order, which is the only offence provided under Section 31 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is not inclined to quash the proceedings against the petitioners herein. However, due to ground realities submitted by the counsel for the petitioners, presence of the petitioners herein (Respondent No.2 to 6) before the Special Mobile Magistrate of First Class, Anantapur, in DVC No.3 of 2026 is hereby dispensed with, except on those dates when the learned trial Court feels that their presence is necessary. In the event of failure of the petitioners to appear when the trial Court specifically directs, this Order shall stands automatically revoked, without recourse to this Court.
9. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is disposed of.
10. Needless to state that the petitioners are at liberty to raise all the grounds before the trial Court.
As a sequel, all pending applications shall stand closed. ____________________________________
JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM Date: 09.10.2026 RMR
CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 9018 of 2026 09.10.2026
W RMR