Thatipally Srija 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.5062 OF 2026 DATE : 21.04.2026 Between:

Thatipally Srija & two others ....Petitioners/A.1 to A.3 AND The State of Telangana, Rep., by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad ..... Respondent : ORDER :

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking the Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners in the event of their arrest in connection with Crime No.419 of of Vanasthalipuram Police Station, Cyberabad District. The offences alleged against the petitioners are under Sections 108 r/w.3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS').

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 08.03.2026 at 10:00 hours, the complainant lodged a complaint stating that he had two children, one son and one daughter. His son, deceased Dandu Umesh Chandra, aged about 24 years, student, had been residing in Hyderabad for the last eight years for studies and was staying in a rented room with friends at Abhyudaya Nagar, Vanasthalipuram for the past five years. On 07.03.2026, when his roommates had gone to work, at about 18:15 hours when his friend Mansoor came to the room and knocked the door, there was no response. On looking through the window, he found Umesh Chandra hanging from the ceiling fan with a nylon bed sheet. He immediately informed the family and police, and with their help the deceased was brought down and found dead.

A suicide note was found in the pocket of deceased, wherein it is stated that Thatipally Srija and her parents Mamatha and Veeraprasanna were responsible for his death, alleging that they had taken Rs.6 lakhs from him, failed to return the amount, and blackmailed him by using AI morphing his photo. He also recorded the same allegations in a note on his mobile phone. Therefore, the complainant requested necessary legal action against the persons responsible for causing financial hardship and blackmailing his son.

the said complaint police registered the case against the accused for the above offences.

3.

Heard Sri K.Akhil Reddy, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners 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 the petitioners have been falsely implicated in the present case. A mere allegation of financial dispute does not constitute the offence of abetment of suicide unless there is clear and proximate instigation or intentional aid to commit suicide. Even if the allegations in the complaint are taken as true, they do not satisfy the essential ingredients of abetment under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as there is no allegation that the petitioners instigated or intentionally aided the deceased. Except for bald and unsupported allegations, there is no material showing any overt act on the part of petitioners. It is further contended that the allegations arise out of personal and financial disputes, and an attempt has been made to give a criminal colour to a civil dispute and that the petitioners have not taken any money from the deceased. It is also submitted

that the entire case is based on a suicide note, which at best reflects the subjective perception of the deceased and, in the absence of corroborative material, cannot by itself establish abetment of suicide. There is no allegation of any immediate act or conduct by the petitioners prior to the incident that could have driven the deceased to commit suicide. Hence, prayed this Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners. 5.

On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed bail contending that the offence committed by the petitioners is grave in nature and a suicide note was recovered from the deceased mentioning the names of the petitioners herein. It is also mentioned that petitioners took Rs.6 lakhs from the deceased and failed to return it and also blackmailed him using morphed photos, which lead him to commit suicide. Hence, petitioners are not entitled to bail and prayed this Court to dismiss this petition.

6.

Considering the submissions made by both the counsel and the material on record, there is mention of names of the petitioners in the suicide note of the deceased. However, considering the allegation against the petitioners/A.1 to A.3 in the suicide note of the deceased, he specifically mentioned the

acts committed by petitioner No.1 which abetted him to commit suicide. As such, petitioner No.1/A.1 is not entitled to anticipatory bail. However, considering the allegations against petitioner Nos.2 and 3/A.2 & A.3, this Court deems it fit to grant anticipatory bail to them subject to the following conditions :

i. The petitioner Nos.2 and 3/A.2 & A.3 shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Vanasthalipuram Police Station, Malkajgiri District within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release the petitioners on 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 petitioner Nos.2 and 3/A.2 & A.3 shall appear before the concerned SHO between 09.00 a.m and 05.00 p.m., on every Monday 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 petitioner Nos.2 and 3/A.2 & A.3 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, the Criminal Petition is partly allowed granting anticipatory bail to petitioner Nos.2 and 3/A.2 & A.3 and dismissed in sofar as petitioner No.1/A.1 is concerned. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 21.04.2026 Rds

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.5062 OF 2026 DATE : 21.04.2026 Rds