APHC010468112026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE 8 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7848/2026 Between: 1. BHIMASETTY SRUJAN SWAMY KRISHNA, S/O. BHIMASETTY SRINIVAS, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, BAY COLONY,PEDDA WALTAIR, VISAKHAPATNAM. 2. BHIMASETTY RATNA, W/O. BHIMASETTY SRINIVAS, 54 YEARS, R/O. D.NO.4 WALTAIR, VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH. RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 3. BHIMASETTY SRINIVAS, S/O. LATE KRISHNARAO, 60 YEARS, R/O. D.NO.4 WALTAIR, VISAKHAPATNAM. 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT AT AMARAVATI. 2. BUDDHA SRAVYA, W/O. BHIMASETTY SRUJAN SWAMY KRISHNA R/O. MIG-92, PHASE KURMANAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM. Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds High Court pleased to quash on the file of I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, against them, in the interest of justice and to pass IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE 8th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7848/2026 BHIMASETTY SRUJAN SWAMY KRISHNA, S/O. BHIMASETTY AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/O. D.NO.4-51-14, LAWSONS BAY COLONY,PEDDA WALTAIR, VISAKHAPATNAM. BHIMASETTY RATNA, W/O. BHIMASETTY SRINIVAS, AGED ABOUT R/O. D.NO.4-51-14, LAWSONS BAY COLONY, WALTAIR, VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH. PRESENTLY RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BHIMASETTY SRINIVAS, S/O. LATE KRISHNARAO, AGED ABOUT R/O. D.NO.4-51-14, LAWSONS BAY COLONY, WALTAIR, VISAKHAPATNAM. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY THE PUBLIC HIGH COURT AT AMARAVATI. BUDDHA SRAVYA, W/O. BHIMASETTY SRUJAN SWAMY KRISHNA 92, PHASE-7, DWARAKAPURI, VUDA COLONY, VISAKHAPATNAM. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the d in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the pleased to quash all further proceedings in C.C.No.3721 of 2023 Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, against them, in the interest of justice and to pass IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3504] THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM BHIMASETTY SRUJAN SWAMY KRISHNA, S/O. BHIMASETTY 14, LAWSONS AGED ABOUT 14, LAWSONS BAY COLONY, PEDDA PRESENTLY AGED ABOUT 14, LAWSONS BAY COLONY, PEDDA ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY THE PUBLIC BUDDHA SRAVYA, W/O. BHIMASETTY SRUJAN SWAMY KRISHNA 7, DWARAKAPURI, VUDA COLONY, ..RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the of Criminal Petition, the C.No.3721 of 2023 Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, as 2 MRK,J Crl.P.No.7848 of 2026 IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 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 grant interim stay of all further proceedings in C.C.No.3721 of 2023 on the file of I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, in so far as the petitioners are concerned including their appearance, in the interest of justice and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): 1. VASAVI RATNA KUMARI DANDAMUDI Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 3 MRK,J Crl.P.No.7848 of 2026 The Court made the following Order: Instant Criminal Petition, under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023, has been filed on behalf of the petitioners herein (A1 to A3), seeking to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.3721 of 2023 on the file of the I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, wherein they were charged with the offences punishable under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr. K.Sandeep, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of respondent No.1-State. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners, after arguing for some time, has confined his argument to the extent of dispensing with the presence of the petitioners (A1 to A3) before the trial Court by submitting petitioners’ practical constraints in attending before the trial Court and states that petitioners shall not dispute their identity at a later stage of proceedings. 4. On the other hand, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor contended that specific accusations have been made as against the petitioners herein and truth or otherwise of the said accusations has to be decided during the course of trial, hence, there are no grounds to quash the proceedings at this stage. So far as dispensing with the presence of the petitioners herein, before the trial Court, he has not opposed the same. 4 MRK,J Crl.P.No.7848 of 2026 5. Since there are specific accusations that have been made as against the petitioners herein, which are all disputed questions of fact, the same can be decided during the course of trial, and this Court, in a petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023 corresponding to Section 482 Cr.P.C., would not be in a position to conduct roving enquiry into the disputed questions of fact and quash the proceedings at this stage. 6. In this context, it is apt to note the dictum held in State of Uttar Pradesh and Another Vs. Akhil Sharda and Others1, by the Apex Court in its vivid terms in the following way: 7. Having gone through the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court by which the High Court has set aside the criminal proceedings in exercise of powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., it appears that the High Court has virtually conducted a mini trial, which as such is not permissible at this stage and while deciding the application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. As observed and held by this Court in a catena of decisions no mini trial can be conducted by the High Court in exercise of powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., jurisdiction and at the stage of deciding the application under Section 482 Cr.P.C., the High Court cannot get into appreciation of evidence of the particular case being considered. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is not inclined to quash the proceedings against the petitioners herein. However, due to ground realities submitted by the counsel for the petitioners, presence of petitioners herein (A1 to A3) before the I Additional Chief Metropolitan 12022 LiveLaw (SC) 594 5 MRK,J Crl.P.No.7848 of 2026 Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, in C.C.No.3721 of 2023 is hereby dispensed with, except on those dates when the learned trial Court feels that their presence is necessary. In the event of failure of the petitioners to appear, when the trial Court specifically directs, this Order shall stands automatically revoked, without recourse to this Court. 8. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is disposed of. 9. Needless to state that the petitioners are at liberty to raise all the grounds before the trial Court. As a sequel, Interlocutory Applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. ______________________________ MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM, J Dated: 08.09.2026 MDP