Banoth Laxm 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.2606 of 2026 DATE: 09.03.2026 Between:

Banoth Laxman

...Petitioner/accused

AND The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court at Hyderabad.

.... 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.14 of 2026 of Tekulapalli Police Station, Bhadradri Kothagudem District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 96, 64(2)(m) of the BNS, Section 5(1) r/w 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

- 2 - 2.

The case of the prosecution is that, on 21.01.2026, the de-facto complainant, who is the mother of the victim, lodged a report before the police stating that the petitioner herein induced the victim girl and taken away the victim girl to Mahabubabad District and under the guise of marriage, they both were got married and he also physically exploited her knowingly that she is a minor. Hence, the complainant requested to take necessary action. Basing on the said complaint, the police registered a case for the above said offences.

3.

Heard Sri Raveendhar Malothu, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri M. Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner and the victim were in love and they both with the consent of the victim performed the marriage and only at the instance of mother of the victim, a false case is registered against the petitioner and he is in jail since 26.01.2026 and the material part of the investigation was already completed. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to him by allowing this criminal petition.

- 3 - 5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner stating that the victim on the date of incident was 17 years and 5 months old and knowingly he performed the marriage with the victim. It is further submitted that notice is served to the victim and the investigation is not yet completed 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 26.01.2026. As seen from the remand case diary, the prosecution witnesses, LWs 1 to 17 have already been examined. Further, 183 statement of the victim was also recorded. 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

- 4 - satisfaction of the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate, at Yellandu, Bhadradri Kothagudem District, Telangana.

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.

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: 09.03.2026 TU

- 5 - THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.2606 OF 2026 DATE : 09.03.2026 TU