Cherla Raghuram Alias Lucky, 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.5621 OF 2026 DATE : 30.04.2026 Between:

Cherla Raghuram @ Lucky ....Petitioner/A.5 AND The State of Telangana & another .....Respondents : ORDER :

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking the Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner/A.5 in the event of his arrest in connection with FIR No.43 of 2026 of Kodimial Police Station, Jagitial District. The offences alleged against the petitioner are under Sections 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), 351(2) r/w.3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS') and under Section 3(1)(r)(s), 3(2)(va) of SC/ST POA Act.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 12.03.2026 at about 09:00 AM by the complainant, Boddelli Abhilash lodged a complaint before police stating that on 07.03.2026, while returning from his aunt's house at Sandralapalli Village, when he reached near Wisdom School at Kodimial Village, he noticed that Bandapelli Prem Kumar was being beaten by Dandaveni Sridhar, Vasampelli Uday, and Manchala Shiva with sticks and beer bottles. When the complainant tried to intervene, Vadlakonda Akhil, Kothuri Paramesh, and Cherla Raghuram also came there. Thereafter, A1 to A6, namely Dandaveni Sridhar, Vadlakonda Akhil, Manchala Shiva, Vasampelli Uday, Cherla Raghuram @ Lucky, and Kothuri Paramesh, jointly attacked the complainant and Prem Kumar with sticks and beer bottles.

During the assault, A2 Vadlakonda Akhil punched the complainant on his face, causing his lower teeth to break. It is further alleged that all the accused abused the complainant and Prem Kumar by referring to their caste in filthy language and threatened to kill them due to previous enmity. Hence, the complainant requested the police to take necessary action against the accused.

3.

Heard Sri Alluri Divakar Reddy, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy,

learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for 1st respondent - State.

4.

The learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the petitioner has been falsely implicated as A.5 only to harass him and has been unnecessarily roped into the present case. It is submitted that the complaint contains only vague and omnibus allegations, without any specific overt act attributed to the petitioner, and that the ingredients of the offences punishable under Sections 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), 351(2) read with 3(5) of the BNS, and Sections 3(1)(r)(s) and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act are not attracted against him, even if the allegations in the complaint are taken at face value. It is further submitted that though the alleged incident occurred on 07.03.2026 at about 11:00 PM, the complaint was lodged only on 12.03.2026 at 09:00 AM, with an unexplained delay of five days, which creates doubt about the prosecution version. Learned counsel also submitted that there is no cogent evidence, or connecting circumstance linking the petitioner to the alleged offence. Hence, prayed this Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

5.

On the other hand learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed for grant of anticipatory bail contending that the petitioner along with other accused abused Lw.1 intentionally on his caste name in public place and A.2 bet the victim with beer bottle on the head causing severe injuries and also threatened to kill him. Further, as the victim has suffered grievous injury, Section 118(1) of BNS was altered to Section 118(2) of BNS. As such, petitioner is not entitled to bail and prayed to dismiss this petition.

6.

Considering the submissions made by the respective counsel and the material placed on record, the petitioner herein is arrayed as A.5. The specific allegation against him is that the petitioner also bet the victim, whereas, the complaint shows that Vadlakonda Akhil bet the victim on his face due to which the complainant lost his teeth and that is the only grievous injury. Considering the allegations against the petitioner and that he is a student, this Court deems it appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions :

i.

The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Kodimial Police Station, Jagitial District within two weeks

from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release the petitioner on bail on his 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 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 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 allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 30.04.2026 Rds

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.5621 OF 2026 Date: 30.04.2026 Rds