APHC010443612026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] WEDNESDAY, THE 9th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7379/2026 Between: NANDIKA LOKANATH ALIAS LOKANADHAM REDDY, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, OCC WELDER R/O BARADA VILLAGE, ROMPA,GANJAM DISTIRCT, ODISHA - 761010 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH P.S., ITCHAPURAM RURAL,SRIKAKULAM DISTRICTREP BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF A.P., AMARAVATI. 2. MARADA RUKMINAMMA, W/O DEVENDRAR/O DHARMAPURAM VILLAGE, ICHAPURAM MANDAL,SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: RAVI KIRAN PONNURU Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2. GAJJALA MALLIKARJUNA REDDY 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7379 of 2026 Dated 09.09.2026 The Court made the following: ORDER: The 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 on bail in Crime No.73 of 2026 of Itchapuram Rural Police Station, Srikalulam District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused herein for the offences punishable under Sections 85 and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNS’). 2. Sri Ravi Kiran Ponnuru, the learned counsel for the Petitioner, submits that Petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and has been falsely implicated in the case. He is a law-abiding citizen. He is sole earning member of the family. He has not committed any offence. The Petitioner/Accused undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. 3. The learned counsel for the Petitioner/Accused further submitted that there are no previous adverse antecedents reported against the Petitioner / Accused. The Petitioner was arrested on 13.07.2026 and there was a suicide note stating that there is no one responsible for death of the deceased. In light of the foregoing submissions, the learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice. 4. Per contra, Mr. A. Sai Rohit, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner, submitting that the 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7379 of 2026 Dated 09.09.2026 investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the petitioner is released on bail at this stage, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. In view of the foregoing submissions, it is urged that the petition be dismissed. 5. On the other hand, Mr. Gajjala Mallikarjuna Reddy, the learned legal aid counsel for the Respondent No.2/De-facto complainant vehemently opposed granting of bail to the Petitioner/Accused, submitting that if the Petitioner/Accused is released on bail at this stage, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. In view of the foregoing submissions, it is urged that the petition be dismissed. 6. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner/Accused, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor and the learned legal aid counsel for Respondent No.2. Perused the record. 7. As seen from the record, marriage between the Petitioner/Accused and the daughter of the Respondent No.2/De-facto Complainant was performed on 27.04.2018. Respondent No.2/De-facto Complainant is the mother of the deceased. It is alleged by the Respondent No.2/De-facto Complainant that the Petitioner/Accused used to harass his wife (deceased) and that the wife (deceased) of the Petitioner/Accused was unable to bear the cruelty and harassment by him, so she committed suicide. 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7379 of 2026 Dated 09.09.2026 8. The Station House Officer, Itchapuram Police Station, registered FIR No.73 of 2026 for the alleged offences under Sections 85 and 108 of ‘the BNS’. So far, eight witnesses are examined and the Post Mortem Report has also been received. The Petitioner/Accused is working in Dubai as welder. The Petitioner/Accused was arrested on 13.07.2026 and has been in judicial custody for 58 days. Substantial portion of the investigation with regard to the alleged role played by the petitioner has been completed. 9. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused on bail with some stringent conditions. 10. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused shall be enlarged on bail subject to his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class Court, Sompeta, (FAC) Itchapuram, Srikakulam District. ii. The Petitioner/Accused shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, on every Saturday in between 10:00 am and 01:00 pm, till filing of the charge sheet. 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7379 of 2026 Dated 09.09.2026 iii. The Petitioner/Accused shall not leave the limits of the District without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned. iv. The Petitioner/Accused shall surrender his passport to the Investigating Officer, if he states that he does not have passport, the Petitioner shall submit an affidavit to that effect. v. The Petitioner/Accused shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence while on bail. vi. The Petitioner/Accused shall cooperate with the investigating officer in further investigation of the case and shall make himself available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required. vii. The Petitioner/Accused shall 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. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 09.09.2026 RSI/DRNR 6 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7379 of 2026 Dated 09.09.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7379 of 2026 Date: 09.09.2026 RSI/DRNR