Veleti Shashikala 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.5556 of 2026 DATE: 30.04.2026 BETWEEN:

Veleti Shashikala and another .....petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 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.2 and 3 in Crime No.48 of 2026 before the

Jawaharnagar Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionerate, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 340(2) read with 3(5) of BNS.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 09.01.2026, based on the complaint of Kumarla Prashanthi, Crime No.48/2026 was registered at Jawahar Nagar Police Station for offences under Sections 318(4), 338, 340(2) r/w 3(5) BNS. It is alleged that Accused No.1, Veleti Rufus @ Refus Paul, induced students by promising illegal clearance of GRE, TOEFL and IELTS examinations, collected huge sums of money through various bank accounts including those of the petitioners, and later supplied fake scorecards.

Upon verification, the scorecards were found forged, and the accused allegedly threatened the complainant. Investigation is in progress. 3.

Heard Sri D. Sudharshan, 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 are innocent and have been falsely implicated only because of their relationship with Accused No.1 and that there are no specific allegations or overt acts attributed to them, and mere receipt of amounts into their bank accounts does not establish knowledge, intention, cheating, forgery, or common intention. He further submitted that the complaint was lodged with unexplained delay, the case rests only on documentary evidence already with the police, custodial interrogation is unnecessary, and Petitioner No.1 being a woman is entitled to liberal consideration for bail. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application contending that the petitioners were involved in the cheating racket along with Accused No.1 and that amounts collected from victims were routed through their bank accounts. He further submitted that the allegations disclose a well-planned fraud involving forged scorecards and cheating of several students for huge amounts and that investigation is still in progress, their custodial interrogation

may be necessary to trace the money trail and other accused, and if released on bail, the petitioners may influence witnesses or hamper the investigation. Hence, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal 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 the case pertains to alleged cheating and forgery in the guise of facilitating illegal clearance of GRE, TOEFL and IELTS examinations, wherein Accused No.1 is said to have collected money from victims and routed the same through various bank accounts, including those of the present petitioners. The main allegation against the petitioners is that the amounts collected from the victims were credited into their bank accounts, thereby indicating their involvement in the alleged transactions. However, at this stage, there are no specific overt acts attributed to the petitioners except the said financial transactions, and the matter primarily rests on documentary evidence already in the custody of the investigating agency.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, including the nature of allegations, the stage of investigation, and the fact that custodial

interrogation does not appear to be necessary at this stage, this Court deems it fit to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioners, subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioners shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Jawaharnagar Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionerate 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: 30.04.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.5556 of 2026 Date: 30.04.2026 SAI