Jakileti Vijayaraghunandhan Rao v. The State Of Telangana

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE J.SREENIVAS RAO Criminal Petition No.7014 of 2025 Order:

This Criminal Petition is filed by the petitioner/accused, seeking anticipatory bail under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), in connection with Crime No.665 of 2024 of Siricilla Police Station, Rajanna-Siricilla District, registered for the offences punishable under Section 75 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023 (for short 'BNS') and Section 9 (f) r/w. 10 of The Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012. 2.

Heard Mr.T.V.Ramana Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner/accused, and Mr. Syed Yasar Mamoon, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent/State. 3.

The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner/accused being Head Master of Primary School, Ambedkar Nagar, Siricilla, sexually harassed twelve girls who are studying 4th and 5th class and aged about 9 and 10 years by touching their chest and back. Basing on this, the present FIR was registered.

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4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner/accused submitted that the petitioner has not committed any offence and he was falsely implicated in the aforesaid crime at the instance of three teachers who are not attending the school on time, the same was recorded in the minutes of the record. He further submitted that the police recorded the statements of the alleged victims and other witnesses, but none of the victims made any allegations against the petitioner. The petitioner is currently working at the Mandal Praja Parishad, Tangenapalli. Although the FIR was registered on 08.11.2024, the Station House Officer (SHO) conducted a preliminary inquiry immediately thereafter and found no evidence to support the allegations. Despite this, the Investigating Officers have not filed any charge sheet to date. He further submits that the petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents and he is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation officer and also abide by the conditions which are going to be imposed by this Court, and hence, prayed for grant of anticipatory bail.

5.

Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the petitioner has committed grave offence and the investigation is under progress and at this stage if the petitioner is enlarged on

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anticipatory bail, there is every chance to interfere with the investigation and also influence the witness. Hence, prayed to dismiss the petition.

6.

Having considered the rival submissions made by the respective parties and after perusal of the material available on record, it reveals that petitioner, being the Head Master of Primary School, Ambedkar Nagar, Siricilla, informed the three teachers to come to the school on time, especially the teachers are not attending the school prayer, the same was recorded in the minutes of the school. At the instance of the three teachers only, the de facto complainant lodged a false complaint. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor has placed the statements of the LW Nos.2 to 5 and the above statements clearly reveals that the witnesses are not stated anything against the petitioner and they specifically mentioned that the petitioner is a very good teacher. Even according to the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, 12 witnesses were examined and petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents.

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7.

Taking into consideration the said facts, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner/accused subject to the following conditions.

1. The petitioner/accused shall surrender before the Station House Officer of Siricilla Police Station, on or before 24.06.2025, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release the petitioner/accused on bail on his executing a personal bond for Rs.25,000/- (Rupees twenty five thousand only) with two sureties, for a like sum each.

2. After release, the petitioner/accused shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11.00 A.M. on every Monday, for a period of four (4) weeks or till filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation and thereafter, as and when required.

3. After release, the petitioner/accused shall not influence the witnesses or interfere with the investigation.

4. The petitioner/accused shall abide by the other conditions stipulated in Section 482 (2) Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 and co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigating the case. 8.

Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed.

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As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, stand closed.

___________________ J.SREENIVAS RAO, J Date: 19.06.2025 lk

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE J.SREENIVAS RAO Criminal Petition No.7014 of 2025 Dt: 19.06.2025 LK