Sankarjith Sethi, v. The State Of Telangana, Through Sho, P.S. Miyapur,

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.7488 of 2026 DATE: 06.05.2026 BETWEEN:

Sankarjith Sethi .....petitioner/accused And The State of Telangana, Rep. by Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad.

.....Respondent/complainant

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed praying this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail who is arrayed as accused in Crime No.1125 of 2025 before the Miyapur Police Station,

Cyberabad Commissionerate, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 329(4), 64(1) of BNS. 2.

The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner and her husband had migrated to Hyderabad for livelihood and were residing at Marthandanagar, Hafeezpet. The husband was working at Blinkit, Kondapur. An acquaintance, Shankar Shetti, who was known to the family, allegedly trespassed into the petitioner's house on 18.07.2025 at about 14:00 hours in the absence of her husband, behaved indecently, and forcibly committed sexual assault upon her. It is further alleged that he recorded the act on his mobile phone and threatened to make it viral.

3.

Heard Sri Baglekar Akash Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri M. Ramachander Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State. 4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated and that the petitioner is a local resident with roots in society and there is no likelihood of absconding. He further submitted that

substantial investigation has already been completed and statements of material witnesses have been recorded, leaving no scope for tampering with evidence. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposes the bail application contending that the allegations against the accused are grave and involve serious offences of sexual assault, criminal intimidation, and recording of the act and that the offence was committed in a premeditated manner by taking advantage of the victim's vulnerability. At this stage, granting of 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 the petitioner is in jail since 30.04.2026. As seen from the record, the material part of the investigation has been completed and L.Ws.1 to 12 witnesses have been examined.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the incarceration period of the

petitioner, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each, with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the VIII Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Kukatpally.

ii.

The petitioner shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11:00 a.m., on every Monday for a period of eight (8) week or till filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

iii.

The petitioner shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437(3) of Cr.P.C.(presently, Section 480(3) of the BNSS).

7.

Accordingly, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 06.05.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.7488 of 2026 Date: 06.05.2026 SAI