CRLP/11382/2026 of Ragulapalli Manasa, Vs The State of Telangana, on 23 July 2026

: COMMON ORDER :

These Criminal Petitions are filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNSS’) seeking the Court to enlarge the petitioners on bail, who are arrayed as accused Nos.1 and 2 in Crime No.408 of 2026 of Balanagar Police Station, Cyberabad Commissionerate, registered for the offence punishable under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

2. The brief facts of the case are that on 19.06.2026, the de- facto complainant, who is the brother of the deceased, lodged a report before the Police stating that on 18.06.2026 at about 09:30 PM, he received a phone call from one Sadhguna of Giri Nagar informing him that his sister had been found dead at her residence. On reaching the house, he found her lying dead inside a room. On enquiry, he came to know that on the same morning, accused No.1, the daughter-in-law of the deceased, had quarreled with and abused the deceased, locked her inside the house and left in the afternoon along with her husband, accused No.2. Later, when the family members returned home at night, they allegedly found the deceased hanging inside the house. Accused No.1 had been frequently harassing and neglecting the deceased and that accused No.2 had failed to support or protect her. Earlier, the brothers of accused No.1, namely Naresh and Praveen, had allegedly assaulted the deceased. Owing to the continuous harassment, the deceased and accused No.2 had previously consumed poison and were admitted to Gandhi Hospital for treatment. Although elders had intervened and settled the disputes, the harassment allegedly continued. The deceased was also allegedly subjected to humiliation, denial of food and proper sleeping arrangements and frequent disputes. He suspected that accused Nos.1 and 2, along with others, had abetted the death of his sister by subjecting her to continuous mental and physical harassment. Hence, he requested the police to take necessary legal action. Based on the said report, the police initially registered a case under Section 194(1) of BNSS. During the course of investigation, the section of law was altered, and the case was proceeded with for the above-mentioned offences. Based on the said complaint, the police initially registered a case for the offence punishable under Section 194(1) of BNSS and later after investigation, the Section of law was altered to the above- mentioned offences.

3. Heard Sri Y. Soma Srinath Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners as well as Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent - State.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are innocent of the allegations levelled against them and that the deceased and the petitioners had been residing together for the last 15 years, during which no such allegations had ever been made against them. He further submitted that, even according to the prosecution, the allegations are only with regard to harassment by the petitioners and that there is no material indicating any act of abetment. He contended that neither the remand case diary nor the complaint lodged by the brother of the deceased contains any specific allegation constituting the offence of abetment, therefore, prima facie, the provisions of Section 108 of BNS, are not attracted to the facts of the present case. He further submitted that the petitioners have been in judicial custody since 20.06.2026 and that a substantial part of the investigation has already been completed. Hence, further detention of the petitioners is not required for the purpose of investigation. Therefore, prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioners by allowing this criminal petition.

5. On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioners, contending that the allegations levelled against the petitioners are serious and grave in nature. He submitted that, as per the remand report, the petitioners had subjected the deceased to continuous harassment by denying her food and insisting that she leave the house and unable to bear such continuous harassment, the deceased committed suicide, therefore, prima facie, the provisions of Section 108 of BNS, are attracted to the facts of the present case. He further submitted that the investigation is still in progress and that, if the petitioners are released on bail at this stage, they may hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses. Therefore, he contended that the petitioners are not entitled to bail at this stage and prayed the Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition.

6. Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor and upon perusal of the material available on record, it is evident that the petitioners have been in judicial custody since 20.06.2026. As per the remand case diary, the statements of prosecution witnesses, namely LWs.1 to 14, have already been recorded. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the stage of investigation and the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioners, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2, subject to the following conditions:

i. The petitioners shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) each, with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned XIII Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Medchal- Malkajgiri District at Kukatpally.

ii. The petitioners shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11:00 a.m., on every Monday for a period of eight (8) weeks or till filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

iii. The petitioners shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437(3) of Cr.P.C. (presently, Section 480(3) of the BNSS).

7. Accordingly, these Criminal Petitions are allowed.

Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed. _______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 23.07.2026 SS

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA

CRIMINAL PETITION Nos.11380 and 11382 of 2026

Date: 23.07.2026 SS