CRLP/10337/2026 of VEDHAAN MEDIA Vs THE STATE OF TELANGANA on 13 July 2026

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, “BNSS”), seeking the relief of anticipatory bail.

2. The petitioner is arrayed as accused No.6 in FIR No.194 of 2026 of Pocharam IT Corridor Police Station, Malkajgiri, registered for the offence punishable under Section 108 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, “BNS”).

3. Heard Mr.Thomas Joseph Llyod, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.Syed Yasar Mamoon, learned Additional Public Prosecutor representing the respondent-State.

4. Briefly stated, the prosecution case is that accused No.1 and the deceased were in a love relationship and their marriage was proposed. However, as accused No.1's father had died of HIV/AIDS and medical examination revealed that accused No.1 was HIV positive, the marriage proposal was called off. The prosecution alleges that, in that backdrop, accused No.1 forcibly injected his blood into the deceased using a syringe, leading to the registration of Crime No.138 of 2026. It is further alleged that, following widespread adverse publicity against accused No.1, accused Nos.2 to 5 conspired to malign the character of the deceased. According to the prosecution, the petitioner (accused No.6) advised them to defame the deceased through social media, took them to the office of Vedhan Media TV YouTube Channel, and facilitated the recording of an interview of accused Nos.2 and 3, during which defamatory statements were allegedly made against the deceased. The interview was thereafter uploaded on YouTube, and it is alleged that, unable to bear the resultant mental agony, the deceased committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan. On the complaint lodged by the deceased's mother, the present crime came to be registered.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that neither the complaint nor the material on record attributes any specific overt act to the petitioner. It is submitted that the deceased was already under severe emotional, social, and psychological distress on account of Crime No.138 of 2026, which had attracted considerable public attention. It is further contended that no interview was conducted by the petitioner through Vedhan Media, that he has been falsely implicated and has no connection with the alleged offence. Reliance is also placed on the order dated 17.06.2026 in Criminal Petition No.8415 of 2026, whereby this Court granted anticipatory bail to accused No.7 in the selfsame crime. It is submitted that the petitioner is willing to cooperate with the investigation, appear before the Investigating Officer whenever required, and, apprehending arrest, seeks the protection of anticipatory bail.

6. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the petition, contending that the petitioner's presence during the interview telecast on the YouTube channel, wherein objectionable and defamatory remarks were allegedly made against the deceased, is borne out by the material on record. It is further submitted that the investigation is at a nascent stage and that grant of anticipatory bail at this stage would prejudice the investigation.

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

8. The specific allegation against the petitioner is that persons associated with petitioner-Media conducted an interview of accused Nos.2 and 3 in the presence of accused No.7, during which defamatory statements were allegedly made against the deceased and later uploaded on YouTube. However, a careful examination of the complaint and the remand report prima facie reveals that, apart from the petitioner's alleged presence during the interview, there is no material indicating any specific overt act, contemporaneous conduct, electronic communication, or other incriminating circumstance to show that he instigated, aided, or intentionally facilitated the alleged campaign against the deceased.

9. At this stage, it would be premature to record any conclusive finding regarding the petitioner's involvement in the alleged offence under Section 108 of the BNS. It is well settled that abetment of suicide requires material demonstrating a positive act of instigation, intentional aid, or active participation having a proximate nexus with the commission of suicide. Mere association with the other accused or presence at the relevant event, without anything more, would not by itself satisfy the essential ingredients of the offence.

10. Equally, while considering an application under Section 482 of the BNSS, the Court is required to balance the individual's right to personal liberty with the legitimate interests of investigation, having regard to the nature and gravity of the accusation, the specific role attributed to the accused, the necessity for custodial interrogation, the likelihood of absconding, and the possibility of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. The Constitution Bench in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab, (1980) 2 SCC 565, reiterated that anticipatory bail is an important safeguard of personal liberty and that custodial interrogation must be justified by the facts and circumstances of each case.

11. Having regard to the nature of the allegations, the limited material presently available against the petitioner, which is confined to his alleged presence during the interview, and his willingness to cooperate with the investigation, this Court is prima facie of the opinion that custodial interrogation is not warranted at this stage. Accordingly, the petitioner is entitled to the protection of anticipatory bail, subject to appropriate conditions to ensure that the investigation is not prejudiced.

12. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed, subject to the following conditions: (A). The petitioner/Accused No.6 shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Pocharam IT Corridor Police Station, Malkajgiri, on or before 28.07.2026. Upon such surrender or in the event of arrest the Station House Officer shall release the petitioner on bail on execution of a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand only) with two sureties for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the said Officer. (B) The petitioner shall appear before the Station House Officer every Monday and Thursday between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. for a period of ten (10) weeks from the date of his release on bail and shall cooperate with the investigation in all respects. (C) The petitioner shall remain available for interrogation as and when required during the course of investigation and shall extend full cooperation to the investigation. (D) The petitioner shall furnish his complete residential address, mobile number and other contact particulars to the

Investigating Officer and shall promptly intimate any change therein. (E) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly induce, threaten, influence, or promise any person acquainted with the facts of the case, nor shall he tamper with prosecution evidence in any manner whatsoever.

13. Pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall stand closed.

_______________ N.TUKARAMJI, J Date: 13.07.2026 CHS

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI

CRIMINAL PETITION No.10337 OF 2026

DATE : 13.07.2026

CHS