Kothapally Ravindra, 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.3303 of 2026 23.03.2026 Between:

Kothapally Ravindra, And another.

PETITIONERS AND The State of Telangana, Rep by Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad.

RESPONDENT

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed before this Court for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioners who are arrayed as accused Nos.4 and 6 in Crime No.369 of 2026 before the Vanasthalipuram Police Station, Malkajgiri Commissionerate, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 338, 336, 340(2), 316(2), 318(4) r/w. 61(2) of BNS.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that the complainant, Susila, aged 86 years, lodged a petition stating that she had purchased 305 square yards of land in Plot No.246, Survey Nos.327 and 239, Turkayamial village, under a registered sale deed Doc No.1295/1984. She later noticed that a false GPA was allegedly created in her name by one Sayed Kaleem, who forged her signatures and executed sale deeds in favour of Shaik Shareef and Kothapally Ravindra under Doc No.1847/2026 dated 21.02.2026. The complainant asserted that she never executed any GPA and continues to hold the original documents. She alleged that the accused persons forged documents, cheated her, and requested legal action against them.

3.

Heard Sri Veera Babu Gandu, learned counsel for petitioners, and Sri Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners/Accused Nos.4 and 6 have been falsely implicated in the crime though they are only purchasers and witnesses to

the document. He contended that the allegations are concocted, fabricated, and maliciously made to harass them. He stated that the sections of law under which the crime is registered do not attract to the petitioners, and the police have suppressed material facts and filed a false case. He asserted that the petitioners are being dragged into the crime without any basis, and their arrest would amount to illegal detention and hardship to their families. He averred that the petitioners have never been involved in any offence. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioners by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for petitioners, and contended that the allegations disclose serious offences of forgery and cheating, and the investigation is at a crucial stage. He stated that custodial interrogation of the petitioners may be necessary to unearth the conspiracy and involvement of all accused. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6.

Having regard to the rival submissions and material on record, it is noted the petitioners are only purchasers and the applicability of the penal provisions to them is doubtful, and further considering their readiness to cooperate with the investigation, this Court deems it fit to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioners subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioners shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Vanasthalipuram Police Station, Malkajgiri Commissionerate, within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release them on bail on executing a personal bond for Rs.25,000/-, each, with two sureties, for the like sum each.

ii.

The petitioners shall abide by the other conditions stipulated in Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigating the case.

iii.

The petitioners 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 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: 23.03.2026 PT

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.3303 of 2026 Date: 23.03.2026 PT