Potlapati Mallikarjuna Reddy 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.4906 of 2026 DATE : 13.04.2026 Between:

Potlapati Mallikarjuna Reddy.

...Petitioner/Accused

AND The State of Telangana Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Judicature of Telangana, Hyderabad, representing PS, Madhuranagar.

...Respondent

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed before this Court for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner who is arrayed as accused in Crime No.155 of 2026 of Madhuranagar Police Station, Hyderabad, registered for the offences punishable under Section 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS').

2.

The brief facts of the case are that, on 20.02.2026, the de-facto complainant lodged a report before the police stating that the de-facto complainant, a married woman, alleged that she came into contact with the accused, Mallikarjun Reddy, during her employment. In 2024, he reconnected with her and allegedly subjected her to threats, coercion, and harassment, including blackmail using alleged photos and videos. Due to fear and intimidation, she claims she was forced to meet him at various places and comply with his demands. She further alleged that she became pregnant due to him, and when she refused to terminate the pregnancy despite his pressure and threats. Hence, the complainant requested to take necessary action. Based on the said complaint, the police registered a case against the petitioner for the aforementioned offences.

3.

Heard Sri T. Sanjay Reddy, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri M. Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent-State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the relationship between the petitioner and the de-facto complainant was consensual in nature. It is further submitted that the de-facto complainant before filing the report before the police, issued a legal notice wherein she stated that if the petitioner fails to accept her pregnancy, she will file a criminal case against the petitioner and also filed a writ petition for registration of the crime. Issuance of the legal notice and filing of the writ petition itself shows that the de-facto complainant is threatening and harassing the petitioner and the complaint itself shows that there are contradictory statements made by the victim. At the beginning, she stated that she is unmarried and in the complaint, it shows that she was already married in the year 2018 itself.

During the subsistence of the marriage she voluntarily continued the relationship with the petitioner for which there cannot be any legal action taken. It is further submitted that the petitioner is innocent of the said allegations. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioner by allowing this criminal petition.

5.

On the other hand, learned Addl. Public Prosecutor opposing the petition stating that the allegations against the petitioner herein are severe and heinous in nature. It is further contended that under the guise of the fiduciary relationship, the petitioner herein exploited the de-facto complainant. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the 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 earlier the de-facto complainant herself issued a legal notice through a counsel alleging that the petitioner and de-facto complainant were in a voluntary relationship and thereafter the petitioner herein threatens the de-facto complainant for the continuation of their relationship, for which the de-facto complainant became pregnant. The de-facto complainant put a condition to the petitioner to accept the pregnancy and also requested the petitioner to aid her financially which itself shows that she was already married and that the relationship between the parties is a voluntary relationship. Considering the facts

and circumstances of the case, the nature of the allegations, the stage of investigation, this Court deems it fit to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, subject to compliance of the following conditions:

i.

The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Madhuranagar Police Station, Hyderabad, within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release him on bail, on petitioner executing a personal bond for Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only), 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., till the filing

of the charge sheet and thereafter, as and when required.

7.

Accordingly, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 13.04.2026 SRK

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.4906 of 2026 Date: 13.04.2026 SRK