Kothakonda Bhaskar v. The State Of Telangana,
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT
HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUDDALA CHALAPATHI RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.8170 OF 2026 BETWEEN :
Kothakonda Bhaskar and five (05) others.
...Petitioners/Accused Nos.3 to 8
AND The State of Telangana, Through Rep. by the Public Prosecutor, High Court of Telangana, At Hyderabad.
... Respondent/Complainant O R D E R :
This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking to grant bail to the petitioners/accused Nos.3 to 8 in Crime No.11 of 2026 on the file of Mothkur Police Station, YadadriBhuvanagiri District, registered for the offences punishable under Section 77, 79, 85, 109(1), 115(2), 126(2), 127(2), 127(7), 135 and 351(3) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
2.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioners as well as learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondent-State. 3.
The case of the prosecution is that, on 10.01.2026, the de-facto complainant lodged a complaint before the concerned Magistrate, alleging that after her marriage with Accused No.2, the accused persons subjected her to physical and mental cruelty by abusing and intimidating her, and harassed her for additional dowry, including cash, gold and other properties. It is further alleged that despite intervention by elders, the accused continued the harassment and ultimately forced her to leave the matrimonial home. Pursuant to the orders of the learned Magistrate, the police registered Crime No.11 of 2026 of Mothkur Police Station, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District, against the accused persons for the offences alleged and took up investigation.
4.
Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners/Accused Nos.3 to 8 are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present crime. It is contended that the dispute between the de-facto complainant and her husband/Accused No.2 is purely matrimonial in nature, and that the petitioners, being relatives of the husband, have been
roped into the case by making sweeping and omnibus allegations.
5.
Learned counsel further submitted that no specific overt acts are attributed to the petitioners and that the allegations against them are vague and general in nature. It is also submitted that though the allegations pertain to events spread over several years, the present crime came to be registered only in January, 2026, thereby creating serious doubt regarding the veracity of the allegations. It is further contended that the petitioners are law-abiding citizens, have deep roots in society and are ready to cooperate with the investigation. Therefore, he prayed this Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners by allowing the Criminal Petition.
6.
Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the Criminal Petition and contended that the allegations made in the complaint disclose commission of cognizable offences. He submitted that during the course of investigation, material has been collected regarding the involvement of the accused persons and that the petitioners are also named in the complaint. Therefore, considering the nature of allegations and the stage of investigation, the petitioners are not entitled to the
discretionary relief of anticipatory bail and prayed for dismissal of the Criminal Petition.
7.
Having considered the rival submissions and upon perusal of the material available on record, this Court finds that the petitioners/Accused Nos.3 to 8, are relatives of the husband of the de-facto complainant. The allegations against the petitioners are mainly with regard to supporting and instigating the alleged acts of harassment. Whether the allegations are true or otherwise is a matter to be investigated. 8.
Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of allegations made against the petitioners, their relationship with the principal accused and the fact that the dispute emanates from matrimonial discord, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners/accused Nos.3 to 8. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed subject to the following conditions:
1) The petitioners/accused Nos.3 to 8 shall surrender before the respondent police authorities on or before 15.06.2026 and execute a personal bond for Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten thousand only) each with two sureties for like sum each to the satisfaction of the Station House Officer, Mothkur Police Station
on such surrender the petitioners/accused Nos.3 to 8 shall be enlarged on bail.
2) The petitioners/accused Nos.3 to 8 shall appear before the concerned Investigating Officer on every Sunday between 10:00 a.m., and 02:00 p.m., for a period of four (4) weeks from enlargement from the judicial custody and shall cooperate with the Investigating Agency as and when they are directed to be present for investigation.
3) The petitioners/accused Nos.3 to 8 shall not hamper with the investigation and shall not involve in the matrimonial matters, which are detrimental to the interest of the de facto complainant.
4) The petitioners shall abide by the conditions stipulated under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigating the case.
Miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed.
_________________________________________ JUSTICE SUDDALA CHALAPATHI RAO Date: 04.06.2026 ADT/DPM
THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SUDDALA CHALAPATHI RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.8170 of 2026 Date: 04.06.2026 ADT/DPM