Gaddam Lakshmi Prasanna v. The State Of Telangana
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VAKITI RAMAKRISHNA REDDY CRIMINAL PETITION NO.7916 OF 2026 DATE: 29.05.2026 BETWEEN:
Gaddam Lakshmi Prasanna ....Petitioner/A-3 AND The State of Telangana, Represented by its Public Prosecutor, High Court at Hyderabad.
....Respondent ORDER:
1.
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-3 in the event of her arrest in connection with FIR No.107 of 2026 dated 18.04.2026 of Madikonda Police Station, Warangal District. The offences alleged against the petitioner are under Sections 85, 108 r/w. 49, r/w. 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS') and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (for short 'the DP Act'). 2.
The facts of the case, according to the de facto complainant namely Chaganti Yashoda that on 21.12.2021, she performed her daughter's marriage with the accused No.1 viz., Praveen Kumar. At the time of the marriage, according to the demand, she provided a dowry of Rs.5.00 lakhs in cash, gold ornaments, household articles, and a house plot measuring 150
sq.yards to the groom's family. Following the marriage, the couple resided together in Hyderabad and were subsequently blessed with a male child named Himansh @ Tinku, who is aged (4) years. However, for the past three years, the accused No.1-Praveen Kumar, developed bad habits and continuously harassed the daughter of complainant, forcing her to sell the 150 sq. yards house plot and also demanded an additional dowry of Rs.2.00 lakhs for the purpose of purchasing a car, thereby subjecting her to persistent physical and mental harassment. His father, Sambaiah (A2), and A1's sister-Lakshmi Prasanna (A3) have actively supported and instigated A1 in these actions.
Due to this relentless harassment and cruelty, complainant's daughter was physically beaten and driven out of her matrimonial home approximately three months ago, after which, she took shelter at complainant's residence. Unable to bear the continuous harassment and unlawful demands for additional dowry, on 18.4.2026, at about 09:00 hours, complainant's daughter Anusha consumed poisonous pesticide at complainant's house in Kothapally with the intention of committing suicide, and she also administered the same poison to her minor son. Upon receiving telephonic information from the victim, her relative, Nagapuri Bhaskar, along with others, rushed to the spot and immediately shifted both the victim and the child in critical condition to MGM Hospital, Warangal, for emergency medical treatment. Basing on the above complaint, a case in Crime No.
107 of 2026 was registered for the offences mentioned above.
3.
Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State. 4.
Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is arrayed as Accused No.3 and is the sister-in-law of the deceased. It is further submitted that she is residing separately and is employed in the Indian Railways. It is contended that false and omnibus allegations have been made against the petitioner without attributing any specific overt acts.
5.
On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State opposed bail contending that the allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature. Hence, the petitioner is not entitled for grant of bail and prayed this Court to dismiss this petition. 6.
Prima facie, having regard to the nature of allegations in the complaint, this Court finds that the allegations against the petitioner are general in nature without specific role being attributed to her. 7.
Having regard to the fact that the petitioner, who is the sister-in-law of the deceased, is residing separately and is employed in the Indian Railways, prima facie there are no direct overt acts alleged against the petitioner, who is Accused No.3. Further, considering the relationship of the petitioner with the deceased and the nature of allegations, this Court is of the view that the investigation can be proceeded with while safeguarding the liberty of the petitioner.
8.
In view of the above circumstances, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
9.
Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed, granting anticipatory bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions: i.
The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Madikonda Police Station, Warangal, within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release the petitioner on bail on her 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.
Miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________________________ VAKITI RAMAKRISHNA REDDY, J Date: 29.05.2026 NDS/KRK
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VAKITI RAMAKRISHNA REDDY CRIMINAL PETITION NO.7916 OF 2026 DATE: 29.05.2026 NDS