Neerati Shivakumar, v. The State Of Telangana Through P.S. Hanumakonda,

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.5415 of 2026 DATE: 22.04.2026 BETWEEN:

Neerati Shivakumar and others .....petitioner/accused Nos.1 to 3 and 6 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 petitioners, who are arrayed as accused Nos.1 to 3 and 6 in Crime No.102 of 2026 before

the Hanamkonda Police Station, Warangal District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 69, 79, 49, 351(2) read with 3(5) of BNS.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that the de facto complainant lodged a report before Hanamkonda Police Station on 16.03.2026 alleging that accused No.1, with whom she was acquainted, had sexual relations with her on the promise of marriage on different occasions and thereafter refused to marry her. It is further alleged that during counselling and subsequent meetings, the family members of Accused No.1, including the present petitioners, refused the marriage on caste grounds, abused, insulted, and threatened the complainant and her mother.

3.

Heard Sri A. Divakar Reddy, 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 petitioners submitted that the petitioners were innocent and were falsely implicated as

Accused Nos.1 to 3 and 6 only to harass them and that there was an unexplained delay of about four months in lodging the complaint after the alleged refusal of marriage. He further submitted that there was no material or cogent evidence connecting the petitioners with the alleged offences and that the ingredients of the offences invoked were not attracted against them. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant prearrest bail to the petitioners by allowing this Criminal Petition. 5.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the petition and submitted that the complaint contained specific allegations against Accused No.1 and his family members regarding refusal of marriage, caste-based insults, abuse, and threats to the complainant and her mother. He further submitted that the matter was under investigation and custodial interrogation may be necessary to ascertain the role of each accused. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by both sides and on perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the allegations in the complaint are that accused No.1

established a relationship with the de facto complainant on the promise of marriage and later refused to marry her, and that the present petitioners, being family members of accused No.1, allegedly participated in refusing the marriage and in abusing and threatening the complainant and her mother. The main allegation against the petitioners is with regard to their alleged involvement in the subsequent incidents relating to refusal of marriage, caste-based insults, and threats. As seen from the record, the allegations against the petitioners are primarily based on verbal accusations, the investigation is still in progress, and their specific individual role is yet to be established during the course of investigation. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of allegations, this Court deems it fit to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners, subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioners shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Hanamkonda Police Station, Warangal District, within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release them on bail on executing a personal

bond for Rs.25,000/-, each with two sureties, for the like sum each.

ii.

The petitioners 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 petitioners 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.

7.

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

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 22.04.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.5415 of 2026 Date: 22.04.2026 SAI