Sone Rao, 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.6197 of 2026 DATE: 24.04.2026 BETWEEN:

Sone Rao .....petitioner/accused No.2 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 petitioner, who is arrayed as accused No.2 in Crime No.95 of 2026 before the Jainath Police

Station, Adilabad District, registered for the offences punishable under Section 318(4), 316(5) of BNS and Section 7 of EC Act .

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 14.04.2026 at about 11:00 hours, while conducting vehicle checking at Toll Plaza, Pipparwada, the police intercepted a Bajaj Maxima Auto Trolley bearing No. TG01-T2019 moving under suspicious circumstances from Adilabad towards Maharashtra. The driver attempted to flee but was apprehended along with the vehicle.

On interrogation, the accused, Shaik Nazeer, confessed that he had illegally procured 12 quintals of PDS rice at a lower price and was transporting it to Maharashtra for sale at a higher price. The police seized the PDS rice, the vehicle, and a mobile phone under a panchanama in the presence of mediators and brought the accused along with the seized property to the Police Station for further action. 3.

Heard Sri D. Ramakrishna, 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 petitioner submitted that the petitioner is no way connected with the alleged offences. Except the statement of accused No.1, there is no material to show that the petitioner received the PDS rice. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner stating that there allegations against the petitioner that the petitioner is trying to obstruct the card holders from receiving the PDS rice and further the investigation is not yet completed. At this stage, granting of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner does not arise. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and a perusal of the material available on record, it appears that except the statement of accused No.1 there is no material to show that the petitioner received the PDS rice. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, 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, Jainath Police Station, Adilabad 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.

7.

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

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 24.04.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.6197 of 2026 Date: 24.04.2026 SAI