Pratham Singh 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.7935 OF 2026 DATE : 29.05.2026 BETWEEN:

Pratham Singh ... Petitioner/Accused And The State of Telangana Rep by its Public Prosecutor High Court for the State of Telangana, (Through S.H.O. Gachibowli P.S, Cyberabad Commissionerate] and another.

... Respondents

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed under Sections 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, who is arrayed as sole accused in Crime No.2983 of 2025 of Gachibowli Police Station, Cyberabad Commissionerate, registered for 351(2) and 69 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 26.12.2025 at 1900 hours, de-facto complainant lodged a report before the police stating that the accused, a Domestic Cricketer with the Railway

Sports Promotion Board, whom she had professionally assisted with admission and scholarship at ISB, had sexually assaulted her on 30.05.2023 at his student apartment on the ISB campus by forcibly having sexual intercourse against her will. After the incident, the accused threatened and intimidated her to prevent her from approaching the police or ISB authorities and later induced her with false promises of marriage. Basing on the said complaint, a case was registered for the above mentioned offences.

3.

Heard Mr.R.N. Hemendranath Reddy, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of Mr.Kommu Praveen Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.Jithender Rao Veeramalla, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondent No.1-State. Perused the material available on record. 4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent of the allegations leveled against him and he has been falsely implicated in the case and that the relationship between the petitioner and the de‐facto complainant was consensual, therefore, the offence alleged under Section 69 of the BNS is not attracted. He further submitted that the complaint was lodged with an inordinate delay as an afterthought and that the material witnesses were also examined and that the petitioner

is the only bread winner to his family and that he is ready and willing to abide by any conditions that would be imposed by this Court. He, therefore, prayed for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

5.

Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the offence alleged against the petitioner/accused is grave in nature and the investigation is not yet completed and if the petitioner is granted anticipatory bail at this stage, there is every chance of his influencing the witnesses and interfering with the investigation. Hence, he prays to dismiss the criminal petition.

6.

In the light of submissions made by learned counsel for the respective parties and upon perusal of the material available on record, it clearly demonstrates that the complaint has been made after 21⁄2 years from the date of alleged offence and moreover the material part of investigation has already been completed. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, this Court finds it appropriate to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner‐accused, subject to the following conditions:

1) The petitioner/accused is directed to surrender before the Station House Officer, Gachibowli Police

Station, Cyberabad Commissionerate within three weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release him on bail on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties, for the like sum each.

2) The petitioner shall appear before the concerned Investigating Officer on every fortnight i.e., on 15th and 30th of June and July, 2026 between 09.00 am and 5.00 pm for a period of two (02) months or till filing of charge sheet, whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

3) The petitioner shall abide by the other conditions stipulated in Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 and co-operate with the investigating officer in investigating the case. 7.

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

___________________________________________ JUSTICE VAKITI RAMAKRISHNA REDDY Date: 29.05.2026 ss

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VAKITI RAMAKRISHNA REDDY CRIMINAL PETITION No.7935 of 2026 Dt.29.05.2026 ss