APHC010466512026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE 21st DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NOs: 7798 and 6893 of 2026 1.CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7798/2026 Between: 1. TELURU SAINATH REDDY, S/O. T. VENKATA SUSHA REDDY,AGED 33 YEARS, R/O. D.NO. 1/10,REDDY STREET, VONTIMITTA MANDAL,KADAPA DISTRICT. 2. TELURU VENKATA SESHA REDDY, S/O. T. SUBBA REDDY,AGED 61 YEARS, R/O. D.NO. 1/10,REDDY STREET, VONTIMITTA MANDAL,KADAPA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, rep by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): D PURNACHANDRA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2. CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 6893/2026 Between: TELURU PADMAVATHI,, W/O. T. VENKATA SUSHA REDDY, AGED 59 YEARS, R/O. D.NO. 1/10, REDDY STREET, VONTIMITTA MANDAL, 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 KADAPA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI. 2. SIDDU RAMASUBBAREDDY, S/O. CHINNA POLIREDDY, AGE.54 YEARS, R/O. ITHRAMPETA VILLAGE, B.KODUR MANDAL, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT. RESPONDENT NO.2 IS IMPLEADED AS PER THE COURT ORDER DATED 17.08.2026 IN CRL.P.NO.6893 OF 2026. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: D PURNACHANDRA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2. SHAIK MOHAMMED ISMAIL The Court made the following: COMMON ORDER: These two Criminal Petitions are heard together and are being disposed of by this common order, as though the petitioners are different, they arise out of the same crime. 2. Criminal Petition No.7798 of 2026 has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity, ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 on regular bail in Crime No.38 of 2026 of B.Kodur Police Station, YSR Kadapa District, 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 registered for the offences punishable under Section 80 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity, ‘the BNS’). 3. Criminal Petition No.6893 of 2026 has been filed under Section 482 of ‘the BNSS’ by the Petitioner/Accused No.3, seeking grant of pre-arrest bail in connection with the same crime, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.3 for the offences punishable under Section 80 read with Section 3(5) of ‘the BNS’. 4. Sri D.Purna Chandra Reddy, the learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that the petitioners are innocent of the alleged offence and have been falsely implicated in the case. It is further submitted that the petitioners are the sole earning members of their respective families and, therefore, their continued incarceration would cause undue hardship to their dependents. They are law-abiding citizens. 5. The learned counsel for the petitioners further submits that Accused No.1 is the husband of the deceased and Accused Nos.2 and 3 are the in- laws of the deceased. Accused Nos.1 and 2 were arrested on 13.07.2026 and have been in judicial custody for the past 70 days. The material portion of the investigation has already been completed. It is further submitted that Accused No.3 was granted interim protection vide order dated 17.08.2026 by this Court, having regard to her health condition. The petitioners undertake to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, it 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 is urged that Accused No.3 may be granted pre-arrest bail and Accused Nos.1 and 2 may be enlarged on regular bail. 6. Per contra, Mr. A. Sai Rohith, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed the grant of regular bail and pre-arrest bail to the petitioners, submitting that the investigation is still in progress and several material witnesses are yet to be examined. It is contended that, if the petitioners are released on bail at this stage, there is a likelihood of their absconding, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. It is further submitted that the allegations against the petitioners are well founded. In view of the foregoing submissions, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor urged that the petitions be dismissed. 7. Mr. Shaik Mohammed Ismail, the learned counsel for Respondent No.2 in Crl.P.No.6893 of 2026, submits that Accused Nos.1 to 3, instead of taking care of the deceased, who was their daughter-in-law and wife respectively, subjected her to cruelty and harassment in connection with the demand for additional dowry and also compelled her to bear the hospital expenses. The statements of the prosecution witnesses clearly disclose the involvement of the petitioners in the commission of the offence punishable under Section 80 read with Section 3(5) of ‘the BNS’. 8. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor and the learned counsel for Respondent No.2. 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 9. Thoughtful consideration has been given to the submissions advanced by the learned counsel appearing for both sides. I have perused the entire record. 10. Now, the point for consideration is: “Whether the Petitioners are entitled to grant of regular bail and pre- arrest bail, respectively?” 11. As seen from the record, Accused No.1 is the husband of the deceased, whereas Accused Nos.2 and 3 are the in-laws of the deceased. The marriage between Accused No.1 and the deceased was solemnized on 12.10.2015, as per their customs and rites. They lived together happily for a period of about three months. According to the version of the de-facto complainant, the deceased developed a rare skin disease and, due to differences that arose thereafter, she left the company of Accused No.1. She had been staying with her parents for about three months prior to the date of the incident. The de- facto complainant and other prosecution witnesses allege that Accused Nos.1 to 5 demanded additional dowry from the deceased and also compelled her to bear the hospital expenses. 12. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 were arrested on 13.07.2026 and have been in judicial custody for the past 70 days. It is also relevant to note that this Court, in Crl.P.No.6893 of 2026, vide order dated 07.08.2026, recorded as follows: 6 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 The victim is impleaded as respondent No.2 as per the judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in Jagjeet Singh v. Ashish Mishra1. Registry is directed to carryout necessary amendments. Issue notice to respondent No.2 The learned counsel for the petitioner is permitted to take out personal notice on respondent No.2 through Speed Post with Acknowledgment Due and file proof to that effect. The learned counsel for the Petitioner, Mr. D. Purna Chandra Reddy, submits that the Petitioner/Accused No.3 is the mother-in- law of the deceased and mother of Accused No.1 and that she had undergone bypass surgery in the year 2009. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the Investigating Officer is directed not to take any coercive steps against the Petitioner/Accused No.3 until the next date of hearing. The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall appear before the Investigating Officer on 24.08.2026 at 10.00 a.m. and thereafter continue to appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required and cooperate with the investigation. List the matter on 31.08.2026. 13. So far, seven witnesses have been examined, all of whom are material and official witnesses. All the medical records have been received, including the inquest and autopsy reports. The petitioner/Accused No.3 has undergone heart surgery. 14. Having regard to the aforesaid circumstances, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3, the period of incarceration undergone by Accused Nos.1 and 2, the stage of investigation and the medical condition of Accused No.3, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 on regular bail and the Petitioner/Accused No.3 on pre-arrest bail, subject to certain stringent conditions. 1(2002) 4 SCR 536 7 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 15. In the result, these two Criminal Petitions are allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall be enlarged on bail subject to their executing bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/-(Rupees Twenty Thousand only) each with two sureties each for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Junior Civil Judge, Badvel. ii. In the event of her arrest, petitioner/Accused No.3 shall be enlarged on bail subject to her executing a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/-(Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties each for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the arresting police officials; iii. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 shall appear before the Station House Officer, on every Saturday in between 10:00 am and 05:00 pm, till filing of the charge sheet. iv. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned. v. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence while on bail. 8 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 vi. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in further investigation of the case and shall make themselves available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required. vii. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 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. viii. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 shall surrender their passports to the Investigating Officer, if they state that they do not have passports, the Petitioners shall submit an affidavit to that effect. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 21.09.2026 RSI 9 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7798 & 6893 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NOs: 7798 & 6893 of 2026 Date: 21.09.2026 RSI