Narsi Reddy Alias G C L Narasa Reddy 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.2065 of 2026 DATE: 20.02.2026 BETWEEN:

Narsi Reddy @ GCL Narasa Reddy .....petitioner/accused 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 in Crime No.118 of 2026 before the Saroornagar

Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionerate, registered for the offences punishable under Section 108 of BNS. 2.

The brief facts of the case are that the son of the complainant, had borrowed amounts from his friend Narsi Reddy through a credit card and was paying monthly interest. Due to unemployment for the past nine months, he was unable to repay the dues. It was alleged that Narsi Reddy continuously harassed him by making frequent calls and WhatsApp messages, using abusive language, and issuing threats, including asking him to die and threatening to insult him publicly and force him to vacate his house. Unable to bear the alleged harassment and mental pressure, Ramireddy Sandeep purchased pesticide and consumed it on 24.01.2026. He was admitted to the hospital and was undergoing treatment, but he succumbed on 05.02.2026. A handwritten letter allegedly holding Narsi Reddy responsible for his death was found in his room.

3.

Heard Sri T.V. Ramana Rao, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri M. Ramachander Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the complaint was lodged belatedly and as an afterthought with a view to exert pressure on the petitioner. He contended that even as per the averments in the complaint no specific act of abetment or intentional instigation is attributed to the petitioner so as to attract the offence under Section 108 of the BNS read with Section 45 thereof, as the essential ingredient of mens rea is absent. He further submitted that the petitioner is a respectable businessman and a permanent resident having sufficient roots in society and that the transactions between the parties were purely financial in nature and that an Agreement of Sale was executed by the deceased in favour of the petitioner. Subsequently, the deceased is stated to have entered into another agreement with third parties.

Merely because of such subsequent transaction, it cannot be alleged that the petitioner harassed or abetted the deceased to commit suicide. In support of his submissions, learned counsel placed reliance on the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Mahendra Awase v.

suicide is not made out. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the petition and submitted that the allegations in the complaint clearly disclosed the commission of a cognizable offence under Section 108 of the BNS. He contended that the petitioner had subjected the deceased to continuous financial pressure and harassment, which drove him to commit suicide, and that the matter required thorough investigation. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition.

6.

In light of the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and upon perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the dispute between the petitioner and the deceased primarily arose out of certain financial transactions, wherein the petitioner had lent money to the deceased and the same was allegedly not repaid. The only allegation attributed to the petitioner is that he used abusive language, however, there is no specific averment indicating any direct act of instigation or intentional aid on his part to abet the deceased to commit suicide. Having regard to the

principles laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the judgment relied upon by the learned counsel for the petitioner, and considering that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required 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, Saroornagar 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/-, each 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: 20.02.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.2065 of 2026 Date: 20.02.2026 SAI