Chanigarapu Chandra Kumar, 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.7968 of 2026 12.06.2026 Between:
Chanigarapu Chandra Kumar.
PETITIONER AND The State of Telangana, Rep by Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad.
RESPONDENT
ORDER
This Criminal Petition is filed before this Court for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner who is arrayed as accused No.9 in Crime No.423 of 2026 before the Banjara Hills Police Station, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 204, 308(5), 127(7), 140(2) r/w 3(5) BNS.
2.
Brief facts of the case are that On 07.05.2026 at about 15:00 hours, a complaint was lodged by Mulakalapalli Sai
Srishanth alleging that unknown persons impersonating police officials kidnapped, assaulted, and extorted money from him and his friends. It is alleged that the complainant's friend, Mokurala Nikhil, had earlier disputes with one Payam Mounika, leading to registration of Crime No.2726/2025 under Section 69 BNS at Gachibowli Police Station. During the course of events, on 10.04.2026, the complainant was kidnapped near Road No.13, Banjara Hills, and later Nikhil and Mahesh were also allegedly kidnapped from Anantapur. All three victims were confined at a farmhouse in Aziz Nagar, Moinabad, where they were assaulted and a demand of Rs.21 Crores was made. Under coercion, Nikhil allegedly paid Rs.20 lakhs in cash, executed a promissory note, and disposed of gold ornaments. Further amounts were allegedly collected from Nikhil's father through one Omkar, and thereafter the victims were released near Alwal. Subsequent phone calls demanding more money were also received, and based on suspicion, certain names including the present petitioner were implicated.
3.
Heard Sri B. Srikanth learned counsel for petitioner, and Sri Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State. 4.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the name of petitioner is casually referred to only on the basis of alleged telephonic conversations and disclosure statements of co-accused, which are inadmissible in evidence. He further submitted that there is no material to show that the petitioner was involved in demand, acceptance, or instigation of payment, and hence the offence of extortion is not made out against him. He averred that there is unexplained delay in lodging the complaint, which casts serious doubt on the prosecution version. While advocating that since major investigation has already been completed and several accused have been arrested, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is unnecessary, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition. 5.
Learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions stating that serious allegations of kidnapping, wrongful confinement, and extortion have been levelled
against the accused persons, and the petitioner's name has surfaced during investigation, and custodial interrogation is necessary to unearth the larger conspiracy and recover incriminating material. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.
6.
Having regard to the rival submissions and material on record, it is noted that the there are no direct or specific allegations levelled against the petitioner. His implication appears to be based only on alleged disclosure statements and suspicion, without any independent material connecting him to the offences. Therefore, this Court deems it fit to grant prearrest bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions: i.
The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Banjara Hills Police Station 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, and co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigating the case.
iii.
The petitioner shall appear before the concerned Investigating Officer on every Monday between 09:00 a.m, and 05:00 p.m., for a period of eight weeks or till the filing of the charge sheet, whichever is earlier, 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: 12.06.2026 PT
THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.7968 of 2026 Date: 12.06.2026 PT