Gouda Hariprasad v. The State Of Telangana,

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.490 of 2026 DATE: 27.01.2026 BETWEEN:

Gouda Hariprasad .....petitioner/accused No.8 And The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana at Hyderabad.

.....Respondent/complainant

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, who is arrayed as accused No.8 in Crime No.13 of 2026 before the Bhongir Town

Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionerate, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 316(5), 337, 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) of BNS, 66D of IT Act-2008. 2.

The brief facts of the case are that a complaint lodged on 13.01.2026 by the Tahsildar, Bhongir Mandal, alleging large-scale financial fraud in land registration transactions under the Bhubharathi Act. During office-level verification, it was found that in several registrations, only minimal stamp duty and registration fees were remitted to the Government Treasury, while the full amounts collected from landowners were misappropriated. It was further revealed that challan payment receipts were digitally altered using electronic devices to falsely show full payment, thereby causing a loss of Rs.11,27,795/- to the Government.

3.

Heard Sri PSV Prasad, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri M. Vivekananda Reddy, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was innocent and had been falsely implicated in the case and that the petitioner had only approached accused No.6 for registration of agricultural land and had duly paid the required stamp duty and registration charges through PhonePe from his bank account. He further submitted that the petitioner had no role in any manipulation of challans or misappropriation of government funds and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, that the petitioner was ready to cooperate with the investigation. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

On the other hand, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, stating that the allegations levelled against the petitioner are serious in nature. He contended that instead of paying Rs.43,000/-, the petitioner paid only Rs.1,500/-, which clearly shows that he cheated and forged documents, thereby necessitating custodial interrogation. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and upon a perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the petitioner is arrayed as accused No.8 and the allegation against the petitioner is that he paid only a lesser amount towards stamp duty and registration charges, instead of the prescribed amount, in connection with the subject land transaction. It is not prima facie established that the petitioner was involved in the digital alteration or fabrication of challan receipts or in the misappropriation of government revenue. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, and considering that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not warranted at this stage, this Court deems it fit to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Bhongir Town Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionerate, within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release him on bail on executing a personal bond for Rs.25,000/-, with two sureties, for the like sum each.

ii.

The petitioner shall abide by the other conditions stipulated in Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigating the case.

iii.

The petitioner shall appear before the concerned Investigating Officer on every Monday between 09:00 a.m, and 05:00 p.m., for a period of eight (8) weeks or till the filing of the charge sheet, whichever is earlier and thereafter, as and when required.

7.

Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 27.01.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.490 of 2026 ` Date: 27.01.2026 SAI