APHC010115872026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] THURSDAY,THE TWELFTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1793/2026 Between: 1. KOLLI RAJESH, S/O. BASAVA RAO, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, R/O.LANKA MANYAM VILLAGE, AVANIGADDA MANDAL, KRISHNA DISTRICT,ANDHRA PRADESH. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, AT AMARAVATI THROUGH STATIONHOUSE OFFICER, TENALI III TOWN P.S. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Court pleased to enlarge the petitioner/accused on regular bail in Crime No. 140/2025 of Tenali 3 Town Police Station, registered for the offences under Sections 103(1), 238 and 309(4) of BNS, by setting aside the order dated 26-12-2025 passed in CrI.M.P. No.338 of 2025 by the XI Additional District & Sessions Judge, Tenali, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. B PARAMESEWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1793/2026 ORDER: This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed by the petitioner/Accused, seeking regular bail, in Crime No. 140/2025 of Tenali 3 Town Police Station, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 103(1), 238 and 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha (for short “BNS”). 2. Heard Sri B.Paramesewara Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs.K.Priyanka Lakhmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State. 3. The case of the prosecution in brief is that the case relates to a murder for gain occurred prior to 09.06.2025 at Vijayasaradhi Timber Depot, Tenali, where an unknown male aged 60–65 years was found dead by hanging with a bedsheet. Initially registered under Section 194 BNSS based on a report by Ward Revenue Secretary, Gorrepati Suresh, the case was later altered to Section 103(1) BNS on 20.08.2025 after postmortem and RFSL reports confirmed death by strangulation. Investigation and CC camera DVR footage established the identity of the deceased and the offence, leading to the arrest of the accused on 22.08.2025. The accused gave a confessional statement admitting he robbed Rs. 3,000/- from the deceased and, when resisted, 3 strangulated him with a bedsheet and staged the scene to appear as a suicide, resulting in the recovery of Rs. 300/- from his possession. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence. The petitioner did not make any statement before anybody. The petitioner was falsely implicated in this case. The petitioner is a law abiding citizen. The petitioner has been in judicial custody since 22.08.2025. Except the alleged confession statement, there is no material to connect the petitioner to the offence. Furthermore, as the material objects have already been seized by the investigating agency, there is no likelihood of the petitioner tampering with the evidence or influencing witnesses. The petitioner undertakes to abide by any conditions imposed by this Hon’ble Court. He finally prays to allow the petition. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the petition and would submit that investigation is completed, charge sheet is filed and PRC No. 35 of 2025 was also given in order to proceed with the trial. She would further submit that the Investigating Agency has collected direct evidence, specifically CCTV footage, which clearly establishes the petitioner's direct involvement in the offence. If the petitioner is released on bail at this stage, there is a high probability that he will abscond and evade the trial, especially given the gravity of the murder charge. She finally prays for dismissal of the petition. 4 6. Considering the submissions made and on perusal of the material on record, as rightly contended by the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, the evidence collected during investigation prima facie shows the involvement of the petitioner. It is also noted that the investigation is complete and the case is now pending at the PRC stage for committal. Having regard to the nature and gravity of the allegations, the manner in which the offence is stated to have been committed, and the stage of the case, this Court is of the considered view that it is not a fit case to grant regular bail to the petitioner. 7. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. However, the learned Trial Judge is directed to take up the matter for trial in a time bound manner and dispose of the matter as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of three (3) months from the date of receipt of copy of this order and inform the progress of the case to the Registrar (Judicial) every month without fail. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 12.03.2026. UPS 5 256 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1793/2026 Dt.12.03.2026 UPS