Harish Kumar Singla 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.6256 of 2026 DATE: 01.05.2026 BETWEEN:

Harish Kumar Singla ..... Petitioner/Accused And The State of Telangana, Through the Station House Officer, P.S. Madannapet, Hyderabad, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Telangana, Hyderabad, ..... Respondent/Complainant

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') for grant of prearrest bail to the petitioner, who is arrayed as accused in Crime No.62 of 2026 before the Mirchowk Police Station, Hyderabad, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 61, 316(2), 318(4), 351, 352, 61 and 308 of BNS..

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 10.03.2026, the de-facto complainant, lodged a complaint before Police stating that in August 2025, she came across comedy reels on Instagram posted by one Numan Raza and contacted him through his mobile number. He, in turn, introduced her to another person, namely Shoieb Irfan. Subsequently, Shoieb Irfan contacted the complainant and induced her to join a purported work-from-home business opportunity, assuring high earnings. On her request, he shared the office address of "Achievers Club" at Karmanghat, where the complainant, along with her mother, visited and was briefed about a business plan involving healthcare products with different earning tracks. Believing the representations made, the complainant paid Rs.30,000/- in cash on 31.08.2025.

Thereafter, she received certain healthcare products and underwent online training conducted by Shoieb Irfan and another person, Raheem Aslam, through Zoom, wherein she was instructed to recruit new members into the scheme. Acting upon their instructions, the complainant enrolled five persons, who collectively paid Rs.1,50,000/- through online transactions to Shoieb Irfan. Further, in September 2025, Shoieb Irfan collected an additional Rs.60,000/- in cash from the complainant under the pretext of upgrading her to a manager-level position. After collecting the amounts, Shoieb Irfan became unresponsive and failed to return the money.

demanding refunds, causing her mental distress. Hence, the complainant requested the police to take necessary action. Basing on the said complaint, a case was registered for the above mentioned offences.

3.

Heard Sri Shireen Sethna Baria, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Sri M. Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondentState. 4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is working as Country Sales Manager in Forever Living Imports (India) Private Limited and that he is not arrayed as an accused in the present FIR and that there is every likelihood of his false implication, giving rise to a reasonable apprehension of arrest. He further submitted that though the petitioner was arrayed as an accused in two earlier FIRs, the concerned Court returned the remand in FIR No.41 of 2026 registered at P.S. Rein Bazar and that multiple crimes are being registered on the basis of complaints of different informants relating to the same set of allegations, whereas the investigating agency ought to have registered a single FIR and recorded statements of all victims therein. He further contended that the petitioner has no connection with the alleged acts and that the company is a licensed entity engaged in direct selling of goods, which is a lawful business

activity and that the petitioner is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by allowing the criminal petition. 5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the petition by contending that the allegations against the petitioner are grave and serious in nature and that though the petitioner is not presently arrayed as an accused, there is material indicating his involvement, and he may be arrayed as an accused during the course of investigation. He further contended that if anticipatory bail is granted, there is every possibility of the petitioner influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.

As the investigation is still at a crucial stage, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6.

In light of the submissions made by both learned counsel and upon perusal of the material available on record, it is evident that several crimes have been registered in relation to similar allegations and there are no specific or direct allegations against the present petitioner at this stage. Having regard to the overall facts and circumstances of the case and the nature of allegations, this Court deems it appropriate to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions:

i.

The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Mirchowk Police Station, Hyderabad 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/- 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 filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation, 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: 01.05.2026 SS

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.6256 of 2026 Date: 01.05.2026 SS