APHC010535032025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] WEDNESDAY, THE EIGHTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 10402/2025 Between: 1. MENUGA RAVI CHANDRA RAMU, S/O SUBBA RAO,AGED 54 YEARS, OCC GOVT.TEACHER R/O 12-30, JANDRAPETA,CHIRALA, BAPATLA DISTRICT. 2. MENUGA ANJANEE DEVI@BALANJANI DEVI, W/O MENUGA RAVI CHANDRA RAMU, AGED 46 YEARS, R/O 12-30, JANDRAPETA,CHIRALA, BAPATIA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF A.P., AMARAVATI. 2. MENUGA HARIHARA BABU, ,S/O SUBBARAO, AGED ABOUT YEARS, R/O JANDRAPETA, CHIRALA,BAPATLA DISTRICT,ANDHRAPRADESH ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): 1. M. SAPTHAGIRI Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 10402/2025 ORDER: The instant criminal petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short ‘Cr.P.C)/under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) has been filed by the Petitioners/Accused Nos. 1 and 2, seeking quashment of the proceedings in FIR No.136 of 2025 on the file of Chirala I Town Police Station, Bapatla District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 118(1) r/w 3(5) of BNS. 2. Heard Sri M.Sapthagiri, learned counsel for the petitioners and Ms.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petition may be disposed of by giving protection to the petitioners vide guidelines of the Hon’ble Apex Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar1. 4. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, on instructions, would submit that the offences registered against the petitioners are punishable with less than seven years period of imprisonment and necessary direction may be given to the concerned Station House Officer. 1 (2014) 8 SCC 273 3 5. Considering the submissions, this Criminal petition is disposed of with the following; a. Investigating Officer is at liberty to complete the investigation, in accordance with law. b. In the event of any coercive action sought to be taken against the petitioners, concerned police authorities are directed to scrupulously follow the procedure prescribed under Section 35 (3) of BNSS., [Section 41-A Cr.P.C] and the guidelines laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar’s case (supra). 6. It goes without saying that, if any charge sheet is filed in the above crime, the petitioners are at liberty to challenge the charge sheet, if they feel aggrieved by the same. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. _________________________________________ Dr. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 08.10.2025 UPS 4 HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 10402/2025 Dated.08.10.2025 UPS 30