Surendhar Karupothula Alias Suman, 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.4372 of 2026 DATE: 08.04.2026 BETWEEN:

Surendhar Karupothula @ Suman .....petitioner/accused No.1 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 No.1 in Crime No.11 of 2026 before the Ingurthy Police Station, Mahabubabad District, registered for the offences punishable under Section 333, 74, 118(2), 292, 351(2) of BNS.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 29.01.2026, the complainant lodged a report stating that there were longstanding family disputes between her family and the accused for nearly 25 years. On 28.01.2026 at about 5:00 PM, while the complainant's mother was alone at home, the accused allegedly abused her in filthy language, assaulted her, and attempted to attack her with a wooden stick. When the complainant intervened, the accused is said to have dragged her, caught hold of her clothes, and outraged her modesty, and also caused injuries with the stick. It is further alleged that subsequently, other family members of the accused also came and abused and attempted to assault the complainant and her mother. The injured were shifted to hospital for treatment, and based on the complaint, a case was registered for the above said offences.

3.

Heard Sri Ponnam Mahesh Babu, 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 and has been falsely implicated due to long-standing family disputes between the parties and that the complaint itself reveals existence of prior enmity for about 25 years, which indicates that the present case is a counterblast. He further submitted that the allegations are exaggerated and improbable, as no grievous injuries are reported despite the allegation of a serious attack with a stick, and no medical record has been produced. He contended that the allegations of outraging modesty are concocted and lack specific details or independent corroboration. It is further contended that substantial part of the investigation is already completed and custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not necessary. 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 petition contending that the allegations in the complaint disclose commission of serious offences including assault and outraging the modesty of a woman. He further submitted that the accused attacked the complainant and her mother with a stick and caused injuries, and such acts cannot be taken lightly. Therefore, at this stage, granting of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner 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 a perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the case arises out of long-standing family disputes between the parties and the alleged incident of assault and outraging modesty. The main allegation against the petitioner is that he abused and assaulted the complainant and her mother and outraged the modesty of the complainant during the course of the incident. As seen from the record, the material part of the investigation appears to be substantially completed. At this stage, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not shown to be

necessary. Considering the same, this Court is inclined to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

i.

The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Ingurthy Police Station, Mahabubabad 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 Wednesday 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.

8.

Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 08.04.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.4372 of 2026 Date: 08.04.2026 SAI