Mahender @ Mahender Ponnam v. The State Of Telangana
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION Nos.2663 & 2664 OF 2026 DATE : 03.03.2026 CRL.P.NO.2663 OF 2026 :
Between :
Smt.Kova Laxmi ...
Petitioner/A.12 And The State of Telangana, Rep., by its Public Prosecutor, High Court at Hyderabad, Through P.S.Ramakrishnapur, ... Respondent/ complainant CRL.P.NO.2664 OF 2026 :
Between :
Mahender @ Mahender Ponnam ...
Petitioner/A.13 And The State of Telangana, Rep., by its Public Prosecutor, High Court at Hyderabad, Through P.S.Ramakrishnapur, ... Respondent/ complainant
- 2 - :COMMONORDER :
These criminal petitions are filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, by the petitioners/A.12 and A.13 in the respective criminal petitions seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.40 of 2026 of Ramakrishnapur Police Station, Ramagundam District. The offences alleged against the petitioners are under Sections 189(3), 191(2), 191(3), 121(2), 223 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
2.
The facts of the case are that the de facto complainant, the Sub-Inspector of Police of Devapur Police Station, lodged a report on 17.02.2026 at 2:00 p.m. stating that, as per the instructions of superior officers, he along with other police personnel was on bandobast duty in connection with the election of the Municipal Chairman and Vice Chairman of Kyathanpalli Municipality. During the said duty, certain BRS Party activists, including former MLA Sri Balka Suman, Mula Raji Reddy, Dodisela Rajaramesh, Anil (resident of Chennur), Gajula Chandra Kiran, Medipalli Sampath, Gogula Ravinder Reddy, and others belonging to BRS and CPI parties, arrived at the venue in vehicles. When the police prevented the vehicles from entering Kyathanpalli, the said persons allegedly argued
- 3 - with the complainant. At that time, Hon'ble Minister Sri Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy and Sri Gaddam Vamshi were proceeding to the Municipal Office, Kyathanpalli, to exercise their ex-officio vote. It is alleged that the above-named persons raised slogans against Congress Party activists and pelted stones, during which D. Rakesh, PC-4494 of PS Chennur, sustained a severe head injury and S. Rajashekar, SubInspector of Police, Kotapalli, sustained an injury to his finger. Based on the said complaint, the police registered an FIR for the above offences.
3.
Heard Sri T.V.Ramana Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners appearing in both the criminal petitions and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State.
4.
The contention of learned counsel for the petitioners is that petitioners are innocent and have not committed any offence as alleged. They have been falsely implicated at the behest of the ruling party leaders due to political rivalry, allegedly on the basis of the statements of WPC-3089 M. Vanitha of PS CCC Naspur and HC-2081 of PS Tallagurijala. The petitioner/A.12 is an MLA from Asifabad Assembly Constituency from BRS party and she was appointed as in-
- 4 - charge of Kyathanpalli Municipality in view of Municipal Elections and the petitioner/A.13 is working as Personal Assistant to Sri Balka Suman, former MLA, and has been implicated only on that account. It is further submitted that in the recent municipal elections to Kyathanpalli Municipality, BRS secured 10 wards and CPI secured 4 wards, and all 14 members extended support to BRS, thereby constituting a majority in the 22-member municipality. When the 14 ward members proceeded to the Municipal Office on 16.02.2026 to cast their votes for the election of Chairperson and ViceChairperson, a large police force was deployed and allegedly obstructed their entry, resulting in postponement of the meeting to 17.02.2026. On 17.02.2026, a similar situation allegedly occurred, and the meeting was again postponed to 18.02.2026.
It is contended that during this period, Congress Party workers gathered at the venue and created disturbances, and that the police acted under the influence of the ruling party leadership, including the Hon'ble Minister Sri Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy, local MLA of Chennur Assembly Constituency. It is further submitted that, as per the Remand Case Diary dated 23.02.2026, Accused Nos.
- 5 - petitioners were arrayed as Accused Nos.12 and 13 on the allegation that A.12 is care taker of Chennur Assembly Constituency and caused obstructions to the legitimate duties of police officers and A.13 dragged a woman police officer in public view with intent to insult and humiliate her, thereby attracting Sections 74 and 132 of the BNS. However, in the concluding portion of the Remand Case Diary, it is stated that the petitioners have committed offences punishable under Sections 189(3), 191(2), 191(3), 121(2), 223, 132, 74 read with 190 of the BNS. It is contended that the allegations are politically motivated and that the law and order situation was mishandled for political reasons. Hence, prayed this Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners.
5.
On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed bail stating that the petitionersintentionally attacked on the police personnel while they were discharging their duties. The petitioners herein along with other accused pelted stones on the police personnel due to which Lw.5-D. Rakesh, police constable sustained grievous injury on his forehead and Lw.2S.Rajashekar, S.I of Police of P.S.Kotapalli sustained an injury to his right hand index finger. The injured police official is in critical condition and he is in ICU and undergoing treatment.
- 6 - Hence, petitioners are not entitled for bail and prayed to dismiss these criminal petitions.
6.
Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and upon perusal of the material available on record, it is the contention of the petitioners that they are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that at the time of remand of A.1 on 18.02.2026, the names of the present petitioners did not find place in the remand report. However, subsequently, at the time of remand of A.10 and A.11, their names were included, allegedly with a view to harass them on account of political rivalry. The principal allegation against the petitioners is based on the statement of a woman constable, who stated that the petitioners pushed and misbehaved with her. There are no specific allegations attributing to the petitioners any act of pelting stones at public servants. Having regard to the nature of the allegations this Court deems it fit to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners subject to the following conditions : i.
The petitioners/A.12 & A.13shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Ramakrishnapur Police Station, Ramagundam District within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release
- 7 - the petitionerson bail on their executing a personal bond for Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each with two sureties, for the like sum each.
ii.
The petitioners/A.12 & A.13 shall appear before the concerned SHO between 09.00 a.m and 05.00 p.m., on every Wednesday for a period of eight (8) weeks, for the purpose of investigation or till filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier and thereafter, as and when required.
iii.
The petitioners/A.12 & A.13 shall abide by the other conditions stipulated in Section 482 (2) of BNSS and co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigating the case.
7.
Accordingly, both the Criminal Petitions are allowed. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed.
_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date :03.03.2026 Rds
- 8 - THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION Nos.2663 & 2664 OF 2026 DATE :03.03.2026 Rds