CRLP/15634/2026 of Ranikuntla Suvarna Vs The State of Telangana on 30 September 2026

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNSS’), seeking the relief of pre-arrest bail.

2. The petitioners are arrayed as accused Nos.2 to 4 in Crime No.815 of 2026 on the file of the Mailardevpally Police Station, Hyderabad District, facing accusations under Sections 80(2) and 85 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

3. Heard Mr.Krishna Kishore Kovvuri, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Mr.Syed Yasar Mamoon, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, representing the respondent-State.

4. The prosecution case, in brief, is that accused No.1 was married to the deceased. Accused Nos.2 and 3 are the parents and accused No.4 is sister of accused No. It is alleged that accused Nos. 1 to 4 harassed the deceased, who is the daughter of the de facto complainant, both physically and mentally by demanding additional dowry. Due to such incessant harassment, the deceased ended her life by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in the matrimonial home.

5. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that, although the relationship is not in dispute, the deceased was living separately from her husband, accused No.1. It is further submitted that the deceased was suffering from health issues and did not live with accused No.1 for more than one month after the marriage; thereafter, the couple set up a separate household and lived apart. He further submitted that within one month of the marriage, the deceased even attempted to commit suicide but was rescued and received medical intervention. It is urged that the allegations of harassment for additional dowry are baseless and that the aspects referred to in the complaint are strictly against accused No.1. Further, as per the complaint, the alleged harassment by petitioner No. 1 pertains to domestic discord and the matter was even placed before elders. Thus, the allegations are without any substantiating material. He further pleaded that, at any stage, the allegation under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), i.e., dowry death, cannot be stretched against the petitioners. He also pleaded that, as per his instructions, petitioner No. 3 is residing with her husband elsewhere and is pregnant. Nonetheless, the petitioners are ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation and abide by such conditions as this Court may deem fit to impose while considering the prayer for anticipatory bail.

6. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application and submitted that the complainant has alleged harassment of the deceased on the ground that, at the time of marriage itself, the petitioners had clearly expressed their intention to demand dowry and other benefits. Further, it is alleged that on account of demands for additional dowry, accused No.1, along with the petitioners/accused Nos.2 to 4, mentally and physically harassed the deceased. This issue was placed before elders, who considered the same and at their instance, the petitioners, accused No.1 and the deceased set up a separate family. However, it is alleged that the petitioners continued to harass the deceased, which ultimately resulted in her committing suicide due to such unbearable stress. He further pleaded that the investigation is still ongoing and that 18 witnesses have been examined so far. It is also pleaded that the petitioners’ presence may be required for custodial interrogation for an effective investigation. Thus, he prayed for dismissal of the petition.

7. I have carefully considered the rival submissions and perused the materials on record.

8. The bulk of the allegations against the petitioners is that they, along with accused No.1, physically and mentally harassed the deceased for additional dowry, due to which she was left with no option and committed suicide. Further, the allegations set out against petitioner No.1/accused No. 2 relate to the period immediately after the marriage, even before the couple set up a separate household and pertain to the ordinary course of household affairs. In contrast, the allegations against petitioner Nos.2 and 3 are not specific, except for a general assertion that they physically and mentally harassed the deceased for additional dowry of Rs.10,00,000/-. Further, it is clear from the statements collected during the investigation by the investigating agency that the deceased and accused No.1 were living separately by the date of the occurrence. Having regard to the totality of the circumstances, the allegations set out in the complaint and the statements of the de facto complainant and her family members and in the absence of any definitive mechanical examination to record conclusive findings on disputed questions of fact which are best left to the prerogative of the trial after investigation, it is relevant to note that the petitioners are ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation. In the absence of any tenable ground set out by the prosecution showing a threat or a compelling need for custodial interrogation, this Court is of the considered view that the petitioners are entitled to the relief of anticipatory bail.

9. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is allowed, subject to following conditions. (A) The petitioners/accused shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Mailardevpally Police Station, Hyderabad, on or before 15.10.2026. Upon such surrender or in the event of arrest the Station House Officer shall release them on bail on execution of a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each with two sureties for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the said officer. (B) The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating officer on every Tuesday and Wednesday between 10.00AM to 03.00PM, for a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of their release on bail or until the filing of the final result, whichever is earlier. (C) The petitioners shall remain available for investigation as and when required by the Investigating Officer and shall cooperate fully with the investigation. (D) The petitioners shall furnish their complete residential address and contact details to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated throughout the course of investigation.

(E) The petitioners shall not either directly or indirectly induce, threaten, influence, or contact any prosecution witness, nor shall they tamper with the prosecution evidence in any manner whatsoever. (F) The petitioners shall strictly comply with all the conditions contemplated under Section 482(2) of the BNSS. (G) Any wilful breach or violation of any of the aforesaid conditions shall render the petitioners liable to appropriate proceedings before the court below, including cancellation of bail, in accordance with the provisions of the BNSS and other applicable law.

11. It is made clear that any observations made herein are confined solely to the adjudication of the present application for anticipatory bail and shall not be construed as an expression on the merits of the case. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_________________ N.TUKARAMJI, J Date: 30.09.2026 ssm

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI

CRIMINAL PETITION No.15634 OF 2026

DATE: 30.09.2026

ssm