Jarapatti Venkatesh, v. The State Of Telangana, Through Balapur Police Station,

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.642 of 2026 DATE: 09.02.2026 BETWEEN:

Jarapatti Venkatesh .....petitioner/accused And The State of Telangana, Rep. by Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad.

.....Respondent/complainant

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 480 & 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail who is arrayed as accused in Crime No.496 of 2025 of Balapur Police Station,

Rachakonda, registered for the offences punishable under Section 65 (2) of Bharaitya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and under Section 5 (m) r/w 6 of POCSO Act.

2.

The facts of the case are that on 25.11.2025 at 14:30 hrs, the complainant gave a complaint before police stating that she got married to one Santosh in 2015 and they were blessed with a son and daughter. That her daughter is studying in LKG in Sloka School, Balapur X Road and for the past two years, they had been sending their daughter to school in an auto running by the petitioner who had been picking up and dropping their daughter daily. On 24.11.2025, petitioner took her daughter to school in the morning and dropped her back home in the evening as usual. That night, around 02:30 AM, her daughter woke up crying and complained of pain near her private parts. The complainant checked her daughter, and noticed redness in the area. On enquiry, the victim girl revealed that while returning home, the auto driver Venkatesh made her stand in front of the driver's seat and touched her inappropriately, which caused her pain and made her cry. As such, complainant requested the police to take strict action against

the accused. Basing on the said complaint police registered the case against the accused for the said offences. 3.

Heard Sri Rapolu Bhaskar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

4.

The contention of learned counsel for the petitioner is that petitioner is innocent of the said allegations. Petitioner used to pick up the students to Sloka School and he used to pick up and drop 15 girls in their respective houses. The house of the victim girl is located middle of the starting point and the school and after dropping the victim girl, petitioner drops other girls, as such, there is no possibility of committing the offence by the petitioner. In fact the defacto complainant is not paying the auto charges for the last six months and when the petitioner demanded to pay, this false case is foisted against him. Further, material part of investigation is already completed except filing of charge sheet. The petitioner is in jail from 26.11.2025. Hence, prayed this Court to grant regular bail to the petitioner.

5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed bail stating that the allegation against the petitioner is heinous in nature. The petitioner committed offence on the victim girl who is five years old and investigation is not yet completed. As such, petitioner is not entitled for bail and prayed to dismiss this petition.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and a perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the petitioner is in jail since 26.11.2025. As seen from the record, the material part of the investigation has been completed and L.Ws.1 to 14 witnesses have been examined.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the incarceration period of the petitioner, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each, with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned I Additional Junior Civil Judge-cum-

Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, L.B. Nagar.

ii.

The petitioner shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11:00 a.m., on every Monday for a period of eight (8) week or till filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

iii.

The petitioner shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437(3) of Cr.P.C.(presently, Section 480(3) of the BNSS).

7.

Accordingly, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 09.02.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.642 of 2026 Date: 09.02.2026 SAI