B. Shanthi Niketh @ Shanthini Niketan, 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.5355 of 2026 DATE: 21.04.2026 BETWEEN:

B. Shanthi Niketh @ Shanthini Niketan .....petitioner/accused And The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana at Hyderabad and another.

.....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 in Crime No.447 of 2026 before the Uppal Police

Station, Malkajgiri District, registered for the offences punishable under Section 85 of BNS and Sections 3(1)(r)(s) of SC/ST POA Act.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that the de facto complainant, who is the wife of the petitioner, alleged that after their marriage in 2018 she was subjected to physical and mental harassment, dowry demands, caste-based insults, and repeated domestic violence. She further alleged that on 01.04.2026 the petitioner abused her in the name of caste, assaulted her, confined her in a room, took away her documents, and caused injuries, leading to registration of the crime.

3.

Heard Sri R.K. Chitta, 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 and M.A. Mujeeb, learned counsel appearing on behalf respondent No.2.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the allegations are false, motivated, and arose out of matrimonial

discord and that the ingredients of the offences alleged are not made out and there is no specific material to attract Section 85 BNS or the provisions of the SC/ST Act. He further submitted that the alleged caste abuse was not in any place within public view and therefore Sections 3(1)(r)(s) of the Act are not attracted. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant prearrest bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition. 5.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the grant of anticipatory bail contending that the complaint discloses serious allegations of sustained domestic violence, castebased humiliation, wrongful confinement, and physical assault. He further submitted that the victim sustained injuries and had to obtain medical treatment. Considering the gravity of the allegations and the need for custodial interrogation, it was prayed that anticipatory bail be rejected. 6.

Learned counsel for respondent No.2 supported the prosecution and submitted that the petitioner had subjected the complainant to continuous cruelty since marriage and had repeatedly insulted her caste status. He further submitted that the petitioner assaulted the complainant in the presence

of others, retained her personal documents, and endangered the safety of both the complainant and her child. Hence, he prayed the Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition. 7.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and on perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the dispute between the parties arises out of matrimonial discord between the petitioner and respondent No.2, who are husband and wife. The main allegation against the petitioner is that he subjected respondent No.2 to physical and mental harassment, abused her in the name of caste, and assaulted her during the subsistence of the marital relationship. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the relationship between the petitioner and respondent No.2, 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, Uppal Police Station, Medchal 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 co-operate 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.

iv.

The petitioner is directed not to contact the victim or the child.

v.

If the petitioner threatened the witness or victim, the de facto complainant or

the victim are at liberty to file cancellation of bail.

8.

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

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 21.04.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.5355 of 2026 Date: 21.04.2026 SAI