Firdouse Jabeen@Sofia Begum, v. The State Of T.G.,

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.712 of 2026 DATE: 04.02.2026 BETWEEN:

Firdouse Jabeen @ Sofia Begum.

.....Petitioner/accused No.1 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 praying this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail who is arrayed as accused No.1 in Crime No.2 of 2026 registered for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 303(2) r/w 3(5) of BNS.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 01.01.2026 at about 08:10 hours, one Pulugam Ramesh, lodged a complaint at Bhongir Town Police Station, stating that on 25.12.2025 at about 20:30 hours, while he was present at his shop, a woman identifying herself as Sofiya Begum approached him and expressed her intention to mortgage gold. She provided her phone numbers 8639880163 and 76710604151 and claimed to be a resident of Jathilpura. She mortgaged a gold chain and received a cash amount of Rs.1,40,000/- from the complainant.

Subsequently, on 01.01.2026 at about 07:00 hours, upon suspicion, the complainant examined the chain and discovered that it was fake and merely gold-plated. Alleging that the woman had cheated him by gaining his trust, he requested necessary legal action. Based on the said complaint, Crime No.02/2026 was registered at Bhongir Town Police Station against the petitioner/Accused No.1. 3.

Heard Sri Veera Babu Gandu, learned counsel for petitioner, and Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State. 4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated without proper enquiry, and the complaint does not attract the offences mentioned in the FIR. He contended that the arrest was illegal. He averred that the alleged

offences are punishable below seven years, yet the petitioner was subjected to custodial harassment and denial of access to family members, amounting to violation of constitutional rights under Articles 21 and 19(1)(a). He emphasized that the investigation is complete, witnesses' statements have been recorded, and only the charge sheet remains to be filed. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition. 5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner stating that the allegations against the petitioner are of serious nature. Hence, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6.

Having regard to rival submissions made, and on going through the material placed on record, it is noted that petitioner is in jail from 02.01.2026. Considering the allegations against the petitioner in entirety and the progress in investigation which includes examination of witnesses, including investigating agency, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to following the below conditions:

i.

The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties for a like sum

each, to the satisfaction of the Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, at Bhongir. ii.

The petitioner shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11:00 a.m., on every Wednesday for a period of eight (8) weeks, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

iii.

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

7.

Accordingly, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed. _______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 04.02.2026 PT

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.712 of 2026 DATE: 04.02.2026 PT