CRLP/4536/2026 of Ch Trinadha Rao Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh on 28 May 2026

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition, under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), has been filed on behalf of the petitioner herein/accused No.6 to grant anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.14 of 2026 of Chirala II Town Urban Police Station, Bapatla District, registered for the offence punishable under Section 108 r/w 3(5) of BNS.

2. Case of the prosecution in brief is that, the de facto complainant lodged a complaint before the police stating that the deceased Nos.1 and 2, being mother and son, were eking out their livelihood by running a Tiffin cart at Chirala and that about three years prior to the incident, they borrowed a sum of Rs.5.00 lakhs from the accused, who were allegedly carrying on illegal finance business, at an exorbitant rate of interest. Though the deceased paying interest regularly, failed to repay the principal amount due to financial constraints. In that connection, the accused alleged to have frequently visited the Tiffin cart and subjected the deceased to continuous harassment and criminal intimidation, demanding repayment of the amount and threatening them with dire consequences, including uttering words to the effect of asking them to repay the amount or die. Unable to bear such persistent mental harassment and humiliation, the deceased developed severe mental agony. On 13.01.2026, at about 7.30 PM, both the deceased poured petrol on themselves and set themselves ablaze. The deceased shifted to hospital, where deceased No.1 was declared dead and deceased No.2 after giving a statement to the police, succumbed to injuries on 17.01.2026. Initially, the case was registered under Section 194 of BNSS and subsequently, based on the dying declaration of deceased No.2, the Section of law was altered to Section 108 of BNS read with Section 3(5) of BNS.

3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and only basing on the statements recorded during the course of investigation, the petitioner was arrayed as accused. In the preliminary FIR, the name of the petitioner was not added as accused. The petitioner is doing finance business and except that, he never harassed the deceased for payment of money. He further submits that accused No.1 in the present crime was already granted anticipatory bail by this Court on 22.05.2026 in Crl.P.No.4040 of 2026 and therefore, finally prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that there are specific allegations against the accused that he along with other accused allegedly caused criminal intimidation by demanding for repayment of money. It is further submitted that there are no criminal antecedents against the petitioner except the present crime.

5. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, considering the allegations leveled against the petitioner herein and stage of investigation and also considering the fact that the accused No.1 was already enlarged on bail, this Court is inclined to consider the plea of the petitioner herein for grant of anticipatory bail.

6. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following conditions:

(a) The Petitioner/accused No.6 is directed to surrender before the concerned Station House Officer, Chirala II Town Police Station, within a period of two (2) weeks from today and on such surrender, accused No.6 shall be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand Only) with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the Station House Officer concerned; (b) The petitioner/accused No.6 shall appear before the Investigating Officer once in a week i.e., every Sunday between 10.00 AM and 01.00 PM for three (3) months or till filing of the charge sheet, whichever is earlier;

(c) The petitioner/accused No.6 shall make himself available for Investigation/interrogation by a police officer as and when required; (d) The petitioner/accused No.6 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer; (e) The petitioner/accused No.6 shall scrupulously comply with the above conditions, and breach of any of them will be viewed seriously. The Prosecution is at liberty to move an application for cancellation of the bail.

Miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.

__________________________

JUSTICE BALAJI MEDAMALLI Date: 29.05.2026 MJA/ARB

Criminal Petition No.4536 of 2026

Date: 29.05.2026 MJA/ARB