T. Koteshwar @Nani , 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.8791 of 2026 DATE: 19.06.2026 Between:

T. Koteshwar @ Nani .... Petitioner/Accused AND The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana, Hyderabad and another.

.... Respondent/Complainant :O R D E R:

This Criminal Petition is filed seeking the Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail, who are arrayed as accused in Crime No.124 of 2026 of Asifnagar Police Station, Hyderabad, registered for the offences punishable under Section 5 read with 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short, 'POCSO Act') and Sections 64 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 25.04.2026, de-facto complainant, who is the mother of the victim lodged a report before the Police stating that her younger daughter, who is the victim girl aged about 17 years 5 months was in a relationship with the petitioner. It was alleged that the family members had counselled the victim girl to discontinue her relationship and communication with the petitioner, pursuant to which she ceased speaking with him and ended the relationship. However, thereafter, the petitioner allegedly began harassing and intimidating the victim girl by threatening to make public the photographs and videos pertaining to them and used abusive language against her. Therefore, requested the police to take necessary action. Based on the said complaint, the police initially registered a case for the offences punishable under Section 11 read with Section 12 of POCSO Act, and thereafter during the course of investigation, the Section of law was altered to Section 5 read with 6 of POCSO Act and Sections 64 and 79 of BNS.

3.

Heard Sri S. Mahesh, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for Respondent -State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that according to the prosecution case, the petitioner despite having knowledge that the victim was a minor, allegedly exploited her and threatened that he would make their photographs and videos viral. However, he further submitted that the petitioner is innocent of the said allegations and has been falsely implicated in the present case and that the petitioner himself was only 18 years of age at the time of the alleged incident. He further submitted that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 28.04.2026 and that the material part of the investigation has already been completed. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioner by allowing this criminal petition. 5.

On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, contending that the allegations against the petitioner are serious and grave in nature and that the investigation is still in progress. He further submitted that notice had been served upon the victim and that the statement of the victim under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, was recorded on 30.05.2026.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and upon perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 28.04.2026. As per the remand case diary, the prosecution witnesses, namely LWs.1 to 13, including the Investigating Officers, have already been examined. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the stage of investigation, the fact that the statement of the victim under Section 183 of BNSS, has already been recorded and the period of incarceration undergone by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner/accused, subject to the following conditions:

i.

The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only), with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned I Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hyderabad at Nampally.

ii.

The petitioner shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11:00 a.m., on every Monday for a period of eight (8) weeks or till filing of charge sheet whichever is

earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

iii.

The petitioner shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437(3) of Cr.P.C. (presently, Section 480(3) of the BNSS).

7.

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

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 19.06.2026 SS

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.8791 of 2026 Date: 19.06.2026 SS