Thota Uday Bhaskar v. The State Of Telangana, Through S.H.O., P.S. Bodhan Town,

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.2611 of 2026 DATE: 05.03.2026 BETWEEN:

Thota Uday Bhaskar .....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.59 of 2026 before the Bodhan Police Station, Nizamabad District, registered for the offences punishable under Section 108 of BNS. 2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 07.02.2026 at about 08:00 hours, the de facto complainant lodged a complaint stating that her husband, Neerudi Babu, who was working as a Bill Collector at Pentakhurdhu Gram Panchayat, had consumed unknown poison on 05.02.2026 near the bus stand after allegedly being subjected to continuous harassment by the Gram Panchayat Secretary, Uday Bhaskar, regarding house tax amounts. He was initially shifted to a Government Hospital and later to Government Hospital, Nizamabad, and then to Wellness Private Hospital for better treatment. During treatment, he informed the complainant that he had consumed poison due to the harassment. However, he died on 06.02.2026 at about 11:22 PM while undergoing treatment. Basing on the above complaint, the crime was registered for the above said offences.

3.

Heard Sri Rajath Kumar Pradhan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri M. Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State. 4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged accusations and that he is working as a Gram Panchayat Secretary. He further submitted that there are no specific allegations against the petitioner and that he had only been discharging his official duties, for which he had already submitted the necessary report. He contended that for an offence under Section 108 of the BNS, there must be mens rea on the part of the petitioner. However, there are no averments in the complaint to show that the petitioner had the intention of abetting the deceased to commit suicide. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest 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 petitioners stating that the allegations

leveled against the petitioners are serious in nature and that there is no suicide note is received by the prosecution. Further, the investigation was not yet completed. Therefore, at this stage, granting of pre-arrest bail to the petitioners does not arise. Hence, he 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 main allegation against the petitioner is that he had harassed the deceased in connection with the non-deposit of certain house tax amounts collected by the deceased while working as a Bill Collector. It is also noticed from the record that the alleged suicide note is dated 04.02.2026, whereas the deceased consumed poison and committed suicide on 05.02.2026. Except the allegation that the deceased was harassed on account of the said issue, there are no specific averments indicating any direct act of instigation or abetment on the part of the petitioner. At this stage, the material available on record does not prima facie disclose the necessary ingredients to attract the offence of abetment of suicide.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, 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, Bodhan Town Police Station, Nizamabad District, 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 cooperate 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: 05.03.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.2611 of 2026 Date: 05.03.2026 SAI