APHC010106562025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3457] TUESDAY, THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2247/2025 Between: Rajamahendrapu Durga ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. K CHAKRADHARA SRINIVAS Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following Order: Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the complaint was filed suo moto by the Police against the petitioner by arraying the petitioner as A1 in Crime No.206 of 2024 of Prakash Nagar, East Godavari District, for the offence under Section 143, 144(2) read with 3(5) BNS, 2023 and 3(1), 4(1), 5(1)(a) of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. 2 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that petitioner is a sex worker and the Police are not empowered to register the crime and conduct investigation, unless and until a complaint is made. Learned counsel for the petitioner placed reliance on the Judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in Budhadeve Karmaskar Vs. The State of West Bengal & Ors. in Crl.A.No.135 of 2010, wherein certain directions relating to rehabilitation measures in respect of sex workers and another connected issues were passed. He further submits that since the petitioner herein is also a sex worker, the same rehabilitation measures, as directed by the Hon’ble Apex Court ought to have been extended to the petitioner also, without arraying her as accused. 3. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing the State submits that the submissions of the victims would indicate that the petitioner was instrumental in influencing the victims to indulge into the prosecution and the case is now at the stage of investigation. 4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court does not find any reason to interfere into the case, at this stage. 3 5. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. Interlocutory applications, if any, pending shall stand closed. ___________________ JUSTICE HARINATH.N Dated: 18.03.2025 PSA 4 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N Criminal Petition No:2247 of 2025 Date: 18.03.2025 PSA