Bandikattu Ravi (A-3) 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.4226 of 2026 DATE: 31.03.2026 Between:

Bandikattu Ravi .... Petitioner/accused No.3 AND The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court 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 No.3 in Crime No.22 of 2026 of Asifabad Police Station, Kumrambheem Asifabad District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 108 r/w 3(5) of the BNS.

2.

The case of the prosecution is that, on 22.01.2026, the defacto complainant, who is the Head Constable, while he along with another police constable was performing patrol duty, they received a call from SI, who informed them that a dead body was found at Paikaji Nagar, Asifabad. It was informed that a person had committed suicide by hanging himself in the rented house, where he was residing. Accordingly, they reached the scene of offence and found a male person hanging and lying dead. Immediately, the dead body was shifted to Asifabad Government Hospital, where the duty doctors examined the dead body and declared that the person had already died. Thereafter, the dead body was kept in the mortuary for safe custody. Thereafter, on enquiry with the house owner, they found the particulars of the deceased.

It has also learnt that the deceased was residing in a rented house at Paikaji Nagar, Asifabad and was living together with Kumaram Droupadi. Further, on enquiry revealed that the deceased had been addicted to online betting for the past one year, due to which he suffered heavy financial losses and fell into severe debts. During inspection of the rented house of the deceased, a suicide note was found at kitchen room shelf. In the said suicide note, the deceased clearly mentioned three unknown persons' names i.e. accused Nos.1 to 3, were responsible for his death, stating that he owed them some money.

was unable to bear the same and therefore committed suicide by hanging himself in the kitchen room of his Rented house. Hence, the complainant requested for necessary action. Basing on the said complainant, the police registered a case for the above said offences.

3.

Heard Smt. C. Vasundhara Reddy, 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.

The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that, even as per the allegations in the complaint and the contents of the suicide note, there is no mens rea attributable to the petitioner to constitute abetment of suicide. It is submitted that the deceased had borrowed a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- from the petitioner, and the only allegation is that the petitioner communicated to a third person that he would harm the children of the deceased if the amount was not repaid. There is no allegation of any direct threat or instigation made by the petitioner to the deceased. It is further argued that, in the absence of any direct act of instigation or intentional aid, the essential ingredients of the offence punishable under Sections 108 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are not made

out. It is further contended that the act of demanding repayment of money, by itself, does not constitute any criminal offence. 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 learned counsel for petitioner stating that the allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature and the suicide note was recovered from the rented house of the deceased and it was clearly mentioned the name of the petitioner and because of the continuous harassment of accused Nos.1 to 3, the deceased has committed suicide. Further, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner herein is required for further investigation. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and on a perusal of the material available on record, it is evident that the petitioner herein is arrayed as accused No.3 and accused Nos.1 and 2 have already been arrested and were released on bail. According to the allegations against the petitioner herein, he lent an amount of Rs.1,50,000/- to the deceased and asked for the repayment of the same, as the same was not repaid, he contacted third person to threaten the

children of the deceased.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also the nature of the allegations against the petitioner herein, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required. Accordingly, 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, Asifabad Police Station, Kumrambheem Asifabad 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/-, 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, and co-operate 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 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: 31.03.2026 TU

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.4226 of 2026 Date: 31.03.2026 TU