APHC010405212026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 11th DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 6666/2026 Between: 1. PUPPALA SURESH KUMAR, S/O. GOVARDHAN RAO PUPPALA, AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS,R/O 74-23-12/4A, ASHOK NAGAR, VENKATAPPAIAH STREET,VIJAYAWADA, NTR 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, ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. V ROOPESH KUMAR REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: 2 ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the Petitioner/Accused No.1forgranting of pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime No.69 of 2026 ofDargamitta Police Station, SPSR Nellore District, was registered for the alleged offences punishable under Sections409, 120b, 420 and 201 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for brevity, ‘the I.P.C’). 2. Mr.V.Roopesh Kumar Reddy, the learned counsel for the Petitioner, submits that the Petitioner isinnocent of the alleged offence andhe has been falsely implicated by the Police. The Petitioner undertake to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, it is urged to allow the Criminal Petition. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohith, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed the grant of pre-arrest bail to the Petitioner, submitting that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the Petitioner is released on anticipatory bail, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. Hence, it is urged to dismiss the Criminal Petition. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3 5. On perusal of the record, the Petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.1 in this case. The Petitioner, who was working as Branch Manager of M/s.Shriram Finance Limited, Nellore, during the period between 2014 and 2023, is alleged to have, in March 2020 (between 11.03.2020 and 16.03.2020), conspired with Surendra Talari and Anil Kumar Talari and provided finance facility for the purchase of one used Honda City EMT Diesel 5‑Seater, Model 2014. It is alleged that the Petitioner sanctioned an amount of Rs.2,63,003/‑ with the assistance of one Branch Team Leader, Kuppala Sathish Kumar, and made arrangements for transfer of the said sum without following prescribed norms during the COVID period. 6. It is further alleged by the de-facto complainant that there was no monetary necessity at that time and that the Petitioner, along with other employees, misled the company. The beneficiaries of the loan have not repaid the amount so far. It is also alleged that the Petitioner remitted a sum of Rs.13,600/‑ with mala fide intention to remove the agreement from the follow‑up list. 7. It is submitted that the Petitioner has since been promoted as Chief Business Manager and is presently posted at the Corporate Office, Mumbai. The Petitioner has got fixed abode. He is a long‑standing employee of M/s. Shriram Finance Limited, and has deep roots in Society. 4 8. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the gravity and nature of the allegations leveled against the Petitioner/Accused No.1, this Court is inclined to grant pre-arrest bail to the Petitioner/Accused No.1, with some stringent conditions. 9. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following conditions: i. In the event of his arrest, the Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall be enlarged on bail subject to him 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 Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall make himself available for investigation as and when required; iii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned once in a fortnight, i.e., on every second and fourth Saturday of each month, between 10:00 A.M. and 05:00 P.M., until the filing of the charge sheet. iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not leave the limits of the Andhra Pradesh without the express permission from the Station House Officer concerned v. The Petitioner/Accused No.1shall 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. 5 vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the Investigating Officer. If he claims that he does not have passport, he shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the Investigating Officer. _______________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 11.08.2026 PRA 6 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.6666 of 2026 Date:11.08.2026 PRA