APHC010427612026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 25th DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7047/2026 Between: 1. PULUGU MOJESH, S/O.CHANTI BABU, AGED ABOUT 38YEARS, HINDU, S.C.MALA, NATIVE OF D.NO. 4-3-102/D, OPPOSITE SDA SCHOOL, MADHAVAPURAMROAD, PITHAPURAM TOWN, PITHAPURAM MANDAL,EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT, PRESENTLY RESIDING ATSURYANSH VILLAGE, NEAR V.S.LAKSHMI COLLEGE, ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. By its PublicProsecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, atAmaravathi. Through S.H.O, Sarpavaram PoliceStation, Kakinada District ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. MALLAVARAPU PRADEEP KUMAR Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: ORDER: Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail in Crime No.221 of 2026 of Sarpavaram Police Station, Kakinada District, registered for the alleged 2 offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 316(5), 61(2), 339 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNS’) and Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Protection of Depositors of Financial Establishment Act, 1999. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3. Sri Mallavarapu Pradeep Kumar, the learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the alleged offence, without any cogent evidence linking to the commission of the crime. It is contended that the Petitioner is the sole breadwinner of his family and his arrest would cause undue hardship and prejudice to the dependents of the Petitioner. The Petitioner undertakes to abide by any condition that this Court may impose while granting bail to the Petitioner. 4. It is further submitted that the Petitioner has a permanent place of residence and there is no likelihood of him absconding or evading the process of law. The Petitioner has cooperated with the investigation thus far and assures continued cooperation in future proceedings. It is also urged that the allegations are of a nature that do not warrant custodial interrogation, and if any condition is imposed while granting the bail, Petitioner would not violate it; and it is urged to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohith, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor strenuously opposed the grant of bail, contending that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses are yet to be examined. It is 3 submitted that enlargement of the Petitioner on bail at this stage would seriously hamper the progress of the investigation and may result in non- cooperation from the Petitioner. The prosecution further apprehends that the Petitioner, if released, may influence or intimidate witnesses, thereby obstructing the course of justice. It is also urged that there exists a real and imminent risk of the Petitioner absconding and evading the due process of law. Given the gravity of the allegations and the potential threat to the integrity of the investigation, it is submitted that the Petitioner does not deserve the discretionary relief of bail and it is urged to dismiss the bail petition. 6. On perusal of the record, the Petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.1 in this case. The allegation against the Petitioner/Accused No.1 is that the Petitioner was conducting business under the name of Genesis Online Research and Technology Services, and subsequently, renamed as it Almighty Genesis Capital Management Private Limited. In the process of his business, nearly 3,633 peoples have deposited an amount of Rs.57,87,72,943/- with the Petitioner. Out of the same, the Petitioner had repaid some amounts to depositors and subsequently, he committed default in payment of Rs.37,74,06,847/-. The Petitioner surrendered himself on 09.07.2026 and has been in the judicial custody for the past 47 days. So far 12 witnesses have been examined. Investigation is still at crucial stage. The prosecution alleges that the Petitioner is the main conspirator, if he is enlarged on bail, at this juncture, it would definitely hamper further progress of the investigation. 4 7. Upon careful consideration of the submissions and the material on record, it is found that the Petitioner/Accused No.1 is alleged to have collected deposits from thousands of individuals amounting to several crores of rupees, defaulting in repayment of a substantial portion thereof, and is thus the principal conspirator in the offence. The investigation is still at a crucial stage, with many witnesses yet to be examined, and the release of the Petitioner at this juncture would seriously hamper its progress and pose a real risk of influencing witnesses or obstructing justice. In view of the gravity of the allegations, the magnitude of financial default, and the potential threat to the integrity of the ongoing investigation, it is held that the Petitioner does not deserve the discretionary relief of bail and the request for bail is not found convincing and reasonable. 8. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 25.08.2026 PRA