APHC010185582026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] WEDNESDAY, THE EIGHTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2734/2026 Between: 1. GUDIKANDULA BAPATLA BHUDEVI, W/O. BAPATLA SESHU KUMAR,AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/O.D.NO.3-23-6C,PEDDA CHERUVU, 9 LANE, 25 WARD,NARASARAOPET, GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, ,REP. BY SHO, NARSARAOPET I TOWN POLICE STATION,PALNADU DISTRICT., REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTORHIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATHI. ...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 may be pleased to direct release of the Petitioner on Bail pending enquiry and trial arising out of FIR.No.31 of 2026 on the file of the Narsaraopet I Town Police Station, Palnadu District., and pass such Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. S DILIP JAYA RAM Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION No. 2734 of 2026 ORDER: This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the BNSS, has been filed by the Petitioner herein/Accused No.5, seeking regular bail, in Crime in FIR No.31 of 2026 on the file of Narsaraopet I Town Police Station, Palnadu District, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 316(5), 318(3), 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNS”). 2. The case of the prosecution is that the de facto complainant submitted a report stating that on an enquiry conducted as per the directions of the District Collector, Palnadu District, based on the complaints received from banks and representations regarding large scale loan defaults by certain Self-Help Groups which revealed that the accused along with certain others conspired and created fake SHGs, used individuals not registered in the MEPMA online portal and misappropriated loan amount involving Rs.9,59,61,917/- availed from different banks. Basing on the said report, the present crime has been registered. 3. Heard Sri S.Dilip Jaya Ram, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing on behalf of the State. 3 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this crime and that she is in no way connected with the commission of the offence. The petitioner has been in judicial custody since 02.03.2026. The petitioner is no way concerned with the Self-Help Groups in any aspect, including the allegation of obtaining loans by producing fraudulent documents before the Bank. The allegation made against the petitioner is that she has facilitated sanction of loans to fake SHGs which is beyond the scope of her prescribed job role. Learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that most of the investigation might have been completed by this time. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. He finally prays for grant of bail to the petitioner. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State vehemently opposed the petition and contended that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 02.03.2026. She, however, submits that the custodial interrogation in connection with the role of the petitioner/accused No.5 has been completed and no custody petitions are pending against the petitioner. She would further submit that the Court may pass appropriate orders. 6. Considering the submissions made and on perusal of the material placed on record and the fact that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 02.03.2026 and as the custodial interrogation of the petitioner/accused No.5 has been completed, no purpose would be served by keeping the 4 petitioner in jail. Hence, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner/accused No.5 on bail with the following conditions; i. The petitioner/accused No.5, shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs. 20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) each with two sureties for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the learned I Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division), Narasaraopet. ii. The petitioner/accused No.5, shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required and shall cooperate with further investigation, if any. iii. The petitioner/accused No.5, shall not directly or indirectly tamper with evidence nor influence, intimidate, or induce any prosecution witness. iv. The petitioner/accused No.5, shall appear before the Station House Officer, concerned, once in a week i.e., on every Sunday between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. till filing of charge sheet. v. The petitioner/accused No.5, shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. vi. The petitioner/accused No.5, shall surrender her passport, if any, to the Investigating Officer. If they claim that she does not have a passport, she shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the concerned Court. vii. The petitioner/accused No.5 shall not leave the country without express permission from the concerned Court. 5 7. In the event of violation of any of the above conditions, the prosecution shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail. 8. It is also made clear that the observations made in this order are only for the purpose of deciding the bail application and they shall not be construed as opinion on the merits of the Crime. 9. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is allowed. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 08.04.2026. UPS 6 53 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2734/2026 Dt.08.04.2026 UPS