Pingali Srinivasa 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.5087 of 2026 DATE : 16.04.2026 Between:

Pingali Srinivasa Reddy

...Petitioner/Accused No.5

AND State of Telangana Rep. by its 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 petitioner who is arrayed as accused No.5 in FIR No.82 of 2026 before the Kodad (R) Police Station, Suryapet District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2), 109 r/w. 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (for short 'BNS').

2.

The case of the prosecution is that, on 01.04.2026, the de-facto complainant, who has been working as a watchman at Aditya Venture for the past three years. During the recent Gram Panchayat elections, his daughter-in-law, Smt.

Guvvala Shirisha, contested and was elected as Sarpanch. Following this, disputes arose between the Sarpanch and Vice-Sarpanch groups over fund-related issues during a Gram Sabha meeting held on 30.03.2026. On 31.03.2026 at about 9:00 PM, while the complainant was proceeding to his duty, he was allegedly intercepted by the accused persons near Sriram Lorry Transport Road on the outskirts of the village. The accused, armed with sticks, allegedly chased him with an intention to kill. Out of fear, the complainant hid in nearby bushes, but was traced, dragged out, and assaulted indiscriminately with sticks, causing grievous injuries including swelling on the right thigh and a suspected fracture of the left hand. It is further alleged that one more accused joined and kicked the complainant during the assault.

On hearing the commotion, passersby intervened, following which the accused fled the scene. The complainant was shifted to Government Hospital, Kodad, and later referred to a private hospital at Khammam for better treatment. Based on his statement, a case was registered in Crime No.

dated 01.04.2026 on the file of Kodad Rural Police Station for offences under Sections 61(2), 109 read with 3(5) of BNS. Aggrieved thereby, this Criminal Petition is filed seeking anticipatory bail of the petitioner.

3.

Heard Sri S. Chandra Mohand Reddy, learned counsel for 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 was not present at the scene of offence and is unable to stand on his own due to his left hip replacement surgery. It is further submitted that the petitioner has filed document to establish that he has underwent Hip replacement surgery in the year 2022. Learned counsel further contended that identical allegations have been levelled against another accused, which itself shows that the complaint lodged by the de-facto complainant is nothing, but false. It is further submitted that the petitioner will co-operate with the Investigating Officer during the course of the investigation. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by allowing this criminal petition.

5.

On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, contending that the allegations made against the petitioner herein are grave in nature. It is submitted that the petitioner is implicated in offences punishable under Section 109 r/w 3(5) of BNS, which are serious in nature, as such the petitioner herein is not entitled to grant bail. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition. 6.

In light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and upon perusal of the material available on record, this Court observes that the report filed by the de-facto complainant shows clearly about the presence of the petitioner at the scene of offence. However, documents filed by the petitioner shows that the petitioner has underwent surgery in the year 2022 and is presently unable to stand on his own due to replacement of the Hip. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor also not disputed the said medical condition of the petitioner. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and having regard to the fact of the petitioner's health, 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, Kodad Police Station, Suryapet, 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, 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 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:16.04.2026 prat

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.5087 of 2026 Date: 16.04.2026 prat