APHC010162062026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2454/2026 Between: 1. SRI BADHAGONI SANJEEVAIAH, C/O LAXMAIAH BADHAGONI,AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS,OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL INPUT EDITORR/O 3-80/A, BADANGPET, BALAPUR,RANGAREDDY DISTRICT, TELANGANA - 500 058. 2. KARROTU DEVI, D/O KARROTHU SRINIVAS,AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS.OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL STAFF REPORTERR/O 12-6-1/A, LAXMIGANAPATHI COLONY,PHOOL BAUGH, VIZIANAGARAM,ANDHRA PRADESH - 535 002. 3. KONATHALA MEENAKSHI ALIAS K MEENA, W/O KONATHALA VENU GOPAL,AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS,OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL 2 REPORTER,R/O 58-24-64/1, GAVARA VEEDHI,NEAR POST OFFICE, BUTCHIRAJUPALEM,GOPALAPATNAM, VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH - 530 027. 4. MYLAPALLI SURESH KUMAR, A5,S/O MYLAPALLI VEERAPPADU LATE.AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS.OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL STOP CAMERAMAN,R/O 55-6-48, AMBEDKAR COLONY,NEAR VETERINARY HOSPITAL, OLD VENKOJIPALEM,VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH - 530 022. 5. VARADA SRINIVASA RAO, S/O VARADA VENKATESWARA RAO,AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS.OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL REPORTER,R/O H NO. 12-48, BELLA STREET,CHODAVARAM, CHODAVARAM MANDAL,VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH - 531 036. 6. SRI MUMMAREDDY VENKATESWARLU, S/O RAMARAO,AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS.OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL REPORTER,R/O 3-1812, SARADANAGAR,BALIGHATTAM, VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH - 531 116. 7. SRI KORIBILLI GANESH, S/O KORIBILLI APPA RAO LATE.AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS.OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL REPORTER,R/O H. NO. 14-26-2/2, NEELAKANTA RAO,NEARMGH HIGH SCHOOL,GAVARAPALEM, ANAKAPALLE,VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH - 531 002. 8. GOMPA SRINU MANOJ, S/O GOMPA BABU RAO,AGED ABOUT 41 2 YEARS.OCCUPATION CVR NEWS CHANNEL REPORTER,R/O 12- 53-4, INDIRA COLONY,NEAR NOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE, GAJUWAKAVISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH - 530 026. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESHAT AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. M RAJASEKHAR REDDY, S/O M. VENKATA REDDY,AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS. OCCUPATION BUSINESS,R/O KORISAPADU VILLAGE AND MANDAL,ONGOLE, PRAKASAM DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): 1. VENKAT CHALASANI Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: ORDER: The instant Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, by the Petitioners / Accused Nos.2 to 9 seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.7 of 2026 on the file of III Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam Commissionerate for the offences under Sections 126(2), 308(2) and 351(1) read with 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Sri Venkat Chalasani, learned counsel for the Petitioners would submit that the Petitioners herein are Journalists and are discharging their professional duty of reporting matters concerning the public. It is further submitted that no money has been paid by the De facto complainant to the Petitioners. Learned counsel would further submit that a Coordinate Bench of this Court vide Order dated 28.01.2026 in Crl.P.No.572 of 2026 granted protection to Accused No.1 directing the Police to follow the procedure 3 contemplated under Section 35(3) of BNSS and the same protection may be given to the present Petitioners also. 3. Ms.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Public Prosecutor fairly conceded the same and would submit that the Court may pass appropriate orders. 4. 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 and the guidelines laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar1, which is reiterated in in Satender Kumar Antil vs. CBI and another2. c. Petitioners shall cooperate with the investigation and furnish information / material documents whatever available / required to the investigating agency. Pending applications, if any, shall stands closed. ________________________________________ Dr.JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date:07.04.2026 Note: Issue C.C today B/o. Dinesh 1 (2014) 8 SCC 273 2 2026 INSC 115 4 HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Crl.P.No.2454 of 2026 Dt.07.04.2026 Dinesh