APHC010164802025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3369] WEDNESDAY ,THE NINTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE T. MALLIKARJUNA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 3505/2025 Between: Yerragudi Hari Krishna ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. JITHENDRA P Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following ORDER: 1. This Criminal Petition, under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNSS’), has been filed by the Petitioner/A.8, seeking anticipatory bail, in connection with Crime No.16 of 2025 of Penagalur Police Station, Annamayya District. 2. A case has been registered against the Petitioner/A.8 and other accused for the offences punishable under Sections 9 and 10 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Section 64 read with Section 3(5) of the BNS and Sections 4, 6 and 16 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. 2 3. The prosecution’s case, in brief, is that this is a case of child marriage, wherein the accused was married a minor girl who is aged about 16 years with help of his family members. After knowing the same, the PB Visalakshi ICDS Supervisor, Penagalur Mandal came to the Police Station and presented a complaint. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner/A.8 submits that the petitioner is nothing to do with the offence and the victim girl has attained the age of 18 years at the time of her marriage. The allegation against the petitioner is that he participated in the solemnization of the marriage between A.1 and the victim girl despite knowing her alleged minority. He further submits that the allegation made against the petitioner herein is also on the same footing as that of the case of the A.1 to A.3 vide order dated 17.03.2025 in Crl.P.No.2498 of 2025. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, for the Respondent-State has not disputed the said factual aspect. 6. I have heard both sides. 7. A careful perusal of the order dated 17.03.2025 in Crl.P.No.2498 of 2025, it can be seen that this Court has recorded certain reasons while granting anticipatory bail to the A.1 to A.3 therein. As the case of the present petitioner/A.8 stands on the same footing as that of the case of the A.1 to A.3 in Crl.P.No.2498 of 2025, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner/A.8 with the following conditions. i) In the event of his arrest with regard to this crime, petitioner/A.8 shall be released on bail on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees twenty thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each, to the satisfaction of the arresting police officials. 3 ii) The petitioner shall make himself available for investigation as and when required and that he shall not cause any threat, inducement or promise to the prosecution witnesses. 8. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications pending, if any, in this Criminal Petition, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE T.MALLIKARJUNA RAO Date: 09.04.2025 MS 4 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE T.MALLIKARJUNA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO.3505 of 2025 Date: 09.04.2025 MS