Bakkuri Praveen Kumar, 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.2531 of 2026 DATE: 27.02.2026 Between:

Bakkuri Praveen Kumar .... Petitioner AND The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Special Public Prosecutor, Anti-corruption Bureau, Through the Inspector of Police, Khammam Range, Khammam District, Telangana State.

.... Respondent/Complainant

O R D E R

This Criminal Petition is filed before this Court for grant of bail to the Petitioner who is arrayed as accused in FIR No.03/RCO-ACB-KMM/2026 of ACB, Khammam Range Police Station, Khammam District, registered for the offence punishable under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).

- 2 - 2.

The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner herein demanded an amount of Rs.10,000/- аs illegal gratification for conducting an inspection, stamping the weighbridge, and issuing the requisite certificate. The complainant is stated to have approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau and lodged a complaint on 27.11.2025. The prosecution further alleges that certain telephonic conversations between the complainant and the petitioner contain incriminating material indicating a demand for a bribe and after verifying the record, registered a case against the petitioner and though there is no trap made, they came to the conclusion that, on enquiry there are antecedents against the petitioner, as such, the police registered a case for the above said offence.

3.

Heard Sri D. Sudharshan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri T. Bala Mohan Reddy, learned Standing counsel for ACB and Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State. 4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that there is no official verification pending against the petitioner and the petitioner is falsely implicated in this case and he is in jail

- 3 - since 03.02.2026 and from the last 25 days he is in jail and the material part of the investigation was already completed and 183 statement of the petitioner is also recorded, therefore, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required for further investigation. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to him by allowing this criminal petition. 5.

On the other hand, learned Standing counsel for ACB filed counter denying the averments made in the petition and opposed the bail petition stating that the investigation is not yet completed and though 183 statement of the petitioner is recorded, they have to conclude the material record evidence and as the petitioner is in official position, there is every chance of tampering the evidence, at this stage, the petitioner is not entitled for the bail and prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and upon perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the petitioner herein is in jail since 03.02.2026 and even according to the respondent counsel, 183 statement of the petitioner is recorded and the relevant

- 4 - record is also seized.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of the allegations, the stage of investigation, the duration of incarceration, this Court finds it appropriate 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), with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Special Courts for SPE and ACB Cases-CumIII Additional District and Sessions Judge, Warangal.

ii.

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

- 5 - 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: 27.02.2026 TU

- 6 - THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.2531 OF 2026 DATE : 27.02.2026 TU