CRLP/8137/2026 of Dasari Prakash Reddy Vs The State of Telangana, on 23 June 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 petitioners are arrayed as accused Nos.1 and 2 in FIR No.393 of 2026 on the file of Cyber Crime Police Station, Malkajgiri District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(4), 319(2), 338 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023 and Section 66-C, 66-D of ITA-2000-2008.

3. Heard Mr.Venkat Reddy Kodumury, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr.Syed Yasar Mahmood, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor representing the respondent-State.

4. The prosecution case, in brief, is that the de facto complainant allegedly invested certain amounts in digital gold trading through a website styled as "mitrade-captialfx.com" upon being induced by a person operating under the user identification @nandhureddy1994. It is alleged that, when the de facto complainant attempted to withdraw the invested amounts, the persons behind the said platform demanded an additional sum of Rs.25,52,677/- purportedly towards "exchange fees". Suspecting that he had been cheated, the de facto complainant lodged a report with the police, which culminated in registration of Crime for investigation into the alleged online investment fraud.

5. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that the petitioners have absolutely no connection, either direct or indirect, with the alleged digital trading activities or the website in question. It is contended that, notwithstanding the absence of any material implicating the petitioners, the investigating agency has been summoning them in connection with the aforesaid crime and that they entertain a reasonable apprehension of being subjected to coercive measures, including arrest. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioners are law-abiding citizens, are willing to cooperate with the investigating agency in all respects, and undertake to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. On these grounds, it is prayed that the discretionary relief of anticipatory bail be extended to them.

6. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor submits that the petitioners have not yet been arrayed as accused in Crime No.393 of 2026. However, according to the preliminary investigation conducted on the basis of the report lodged by the de facto complainant, it has surfaced that an amount of Rs.2,10,000/- was allegedly routed through the bank account maintained by the petitioners' company. It is submitted that the petitioners were summoned only for the purpose of verifying the nature of such transactions and ascertaining their possible role, if any, in the online trading activities referred to by the de facto complainant. The investigation is stated to be at a nascent stage and, therefore, it is argued that grant of anticipatory bail at this juncture may prejudice the course of investigation. Accordingly, dismissal of the petition is sought.

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

8. Admittedly, the petitioners have not been shown as accused in Crime No.393 of 2026 as on date. The prosecution seeks to justify the summons issued to the petitioners on the premise that a portion of the amount allegedly invested by the de facto complainant had been routed through the bank account of the petitioners' company. Significantly, however, the details of the investments extracted in the police report do not prima facie disclose any direct remittance into the petitioners' bank account. On the contrary, the suspicious transaction relied upon by the prosecution appears to reflect a credit entry received from an entity described as "Cozy Decorations" through the Central Bank. Thus, at this stage, there appears to be a discrepancy between the prosecution narrative and the banking particulars relied upon in support thereof, which necessarily requires further verification during the course of investigation.

9. Having regard to the aforesaid circumstances, particularly the fact that the petitioners are not presently shown as accused, the apparent inconsistency in the financial trail relied upon by the prosecution, and the reasonable apprehension expressed by the petitioners regarding possible arrest, this Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioners have made out a case warranting exercise of the discretionary jurisdiction, for grant of pre-arrest bail, subject to such conditions to ensure their continued cooperation with the investigation.

10. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioners-accused Nos.1 and 2 shall be enlarged on anticipatory bail in the event of their arrest, subject to the following conditions: (A) The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Cyber Crime Police Station, Malkajgiri District, on or before 08.07.2026. 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 as an when required from the date of their release on bail and shall cooperate with the investigation in all respects. (C) 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. (D) The petitioners shall not either directly or indirectly induce, threaten, influence, or contact any prosecution witness, nor shall he tamper with the prosecution evidence in any manner whatsoever.

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: 23.06.2026 mmr

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI

CRIMINAL PETITION No.8137 OF 2026

DATE : 23.06.2026

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