Dharavath Pandu Naik, 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.8369 of 2026 DATE: 19.06.2026 BETWEEN:

Dharavath Pandu Naik and another .....petitioners/accused Nos.1 and 2 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 petitioners on bail who are arrayed as accused Nos.1 and 2 in Crime No.194 of 2026 before the Nalgonda II

Town Police Station, Nalgonda District, registered for the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that the deceased, a transgender person, was in a live-in relationship with petitioner No.1 for about eight years. Due to disputes between them, petitioner No.1 and petitioner No.2 allegedly harassed and abused the deceased on several occasions. It is alleged that on 06.05.2026, the petitioners made a video call to the deceased and subjected her to verbal abuse, due to which she committed suicide by hanging herself. Based on the complaint lodged by a member of the deceased's community, a case in Crime No.194 of 2026 was registered for the offence punishable under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the petitioners were arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 14.05.2026.

3.

Heard Sri Sanjeeva Reddy Garlapati, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the case and that the allegations are vague, exaggerated and do not disclose the essential ingredients of the offence of abetment of suicide under Section 108 BNS. The alleged disputes between the deceased and petitioner No.1 arose out of their personal relationship and there is no material to show any intentional instigation or aid by the petitioners. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioners by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application contending that the investigation reveals that the petitioners had been continuously harassing and abusing the deceased and had allegedly made a video call shortly before the incident, which drove the deceased to commit suicide and that the allegations are serious in nature and that the material collected during the investigation prima facie discloses the involvement of the petitioners in the commission of the offence punishable under Section 108 BNS. At this stage, granting of bail to the petitioners 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 petitioners are in jail since 14.05.2026. As seen from the record, the material part of the investigation has been completed and L.Ws.1 to 14 witnesses have been examined.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the incarceration period of the petitioners, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioners, subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioners 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 III Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Nalgonda.

ii.

The petitioners 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 petitioners 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: 19.06.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.8369 of 2026 Date: 19.06.2026 SAI