APHC010474142026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] THURSDAY, THE 17th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7969/2026 Between: 1. P SURENDRA, S/O P. VENKATRAMANA,AGED 33 YEARS, PANCHAYAT SECRETARY.NATIVE OF THUMMARAKUNTA,P TM NANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT. 2. P SINDHU, W/O P.SURENDRA,HOUSEWIFE, NATIVE OF THUMMARAKUNTA,PTM NANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT. 3. SOWBHAGYA LAKSHMI, W/O NARAYANASWAMY,AGED 55 YEARS, R/O ADDAGALLU,SRINIVASAPURAM TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE. 4. NARAYANASWAMY, S/O NAGAPPA,AGED 56 YEARS, R/O ADDAGALLU, SRINIVASAPURAM TALUK,KOLAR DISTRICT KARNATAKA STATE. 5. CHAKRAPANI, S/O NARAYANASWAMY,AGED 37 YEARS, R/O ADDAGALLU, SRINIVASAPURAM TALUK,KOLAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE. 6. PRASANTH, S/O NARANASWAMY,AGED 30 YEARS, R/O ADDAGALLU, SRINIVASAPURAM TALUK,KOLAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE. 7. LAKSHMI, W/O LATE PRAKASH,AGED 40 YEARS, R/O ADDAGALLU, SRINIVASAPURAM TALUK,KOLAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High 2 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7969 of 2026 Dated 17.09.2026 Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati - 522239.Through S.H.O, Mudivedu Police Station,Chittoor District. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): SUDEEPTHI POTLURI Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity, ‘the BNSS’) by the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7, seeking grant of pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime No.28 of 2026 of Mudiveedu Police Station, Annamayya District, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 82(2), 329(4), 351(2), 79, 305(a) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity, ‘the BNS’). 2. Mr. Sudeepthi Potluri, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that the petitioners are innocent of the alleged offences and has been falsely implicated by the police. It is further submitted that the petitioners are all the earning members of their respective families and, therefore, their incarceration would cause undue hardship to their dependants. They are law-abiding citizens. The petitioners undertake to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. In light of the foregoing submissions, the 3 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7969 of 2026 Dated 17.09.2026 learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohit, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed the grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioners and submits that the investigation is not yet completed. If the petitioners are enlarged on pre-arrest bail, they may not cooperate with the Investigating Officer and may evade the process of law. Therefore, he prays that the petition be dismissed. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the Petitioners herein are arrayed as Accused Nos.1 to 7. Petitioner No.7/Accused No.7 is the aunt of Petitioner No.2/Accused No.2. The de-facto complainant is the second wife of Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1. Petitioner No.2/Accused No.2 is the wife of Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1. Petitioner Nos.3 to 6 are the relatives of Petitioner No.2/Accused No.2. Section 82(2) of ‘the BNS’ is Bailable offence and there is a bar under Section 219 of ‘the BNSS’ for taking cognizance of the said offence. If the de-facto complainant intends to raise any dispute regarding the commission of an offence punishable under Section 82(2) of ‘the BNS’, the remedy available to her is to file complaint before the learned jurisdictional Magistrate concerned under 190 read with Section 200 of ‘the Cr.P.C.,’/Section 210 read with Section 223 of ‘the BNSS’. Be that as it may, apart from the offence under Section 82(2) of ‘the BNS’, the remaining alleged 4 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7969 of 2026 Dated 17.09.2026 offences are punishable with imprisonment for less than seven years. No custodial interrogation of the Petitioners is required. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations leveled against the Petitioners, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 on pre-arrest bail with some stringent conditions. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following conditions: i. In the event of their arrest, petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 shall be enlarged on bail subject to their executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) each with two sureties each for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the arresting police officials; ii. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 shall make themselves available for investigation as and when required; iii. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 shall not cause any threat, inducement or promise to the prosecution witnesses iv. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned once in a 5 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7969 of 2026 Dated 17.09.2026 week i.e., on every Saturday between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m., till filing of the charge sheet. v. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 shall not leave the limits of the District without the express permission from the Station House Officer concerned. vi. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court. vii. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 shall surrender their passports, if any, to the Investigating Officer. If they claim that they do not have passports, they shall submit affidavits to that effect to the Investigating Officer. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 17.09.2026 RSI/DRNR 6 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7969 of 2026 Dated 17.09.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.7969 of 2026 Date:17.09.2026 RSI/DRNR