Dokur Venkat Rao v. State Of Telangana
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI CRIMINAL PETITION No.8846 OF 2026 DATE : 23.06.2026 Between:
Dokur Venkat Rao.
...Petitioner-accused No.5
AND The State of Telangana
...Respondent
ORDER:
This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, "BNSS"), seeking the relief of anticipatory bail.
2.
The petitioner is arrayed as accused No.5 in FIR No.56 of 2026 on the file of Khillaghanapur Police Station, Wanaparthy District, registered for the offence punishable under Section 103(1), 108 read with 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023.
3.
Heard Mr.Rohan Aloor, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.Syed Yasar Mahmood, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor representing the respondent-State.
4.1.
The prosecution case, in brief, is that the brother-in-law of the deceased lodged a complaint stating that he had received information from one Makala Dariselli, who informed him that the deceased had contacted him and stated that he had killed all his family members by drowning them
in a water sump and that he himself was also going to commit suicide. Upon receiving the said information, the de facto complainant immediately rushed to the residence of his brother-in-law and found him hanging inside a tin shed. He further found his sister and their two minor children lying in a water sump situated within the premises.
4.2.
It is alleged that the de facto complainant recovered a video recording purportedly made by the deceased prior to his death, wherein the deceased mentioned the names of the present petitioner and other accused persons, alleging that he had borrowed money from them and that they had subjected him to persistent harassment and coercive demands for repayment of the debts. On the basis of the said complaint and the accompanying material, the present crime came to be registered. 5.1.
Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that this Court, upon an examination of the allegations and the material collected during investigation, had already granted anticipatory bail to accused Nos.2 to 4 in Crl.P. No.8657 of 2026. It is contended that the allegations levelled against the present petitioner are substantially similar in nature and stand on the same factual footing as those attributed to the co-accused who have already been extended the benefit of pre-arrest bail. 5.2.
Learned counsel would submit that the role attributed to the applicant is indistinguishable from that of similarly situated co-accused who have already been granted anticipatory bail by this court. It is further submitted that the petitioner undertakes to cooperate with the investigation, shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when
required, and would scrupulously comply with any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. On these premises, learned counsel prays for grant of anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the BNSS. 6.
Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor fairly submits that the role attributed to the present petitioner appears to be substantially similar to that of accused Nos.2 to 4, who have already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor does not dispute the existence of the earlier order granting pre-arrest bail to the co-accused, leaving the matter to the discretion of this Court. 7.
I have considered the rival submissions and perused the material available on record.
8.
It is evident from the record that this Court, in Crl.P. No.8657 of 2026, had granted anticipatory bail to accused Nos.2 to 4 after considering the nature of the allegations and the attendant circumstances. The prosecution has not brought to the notice of this Court any distinguishing feature, additional incriminating material, or special circumstance warranting differential treatment of the present petitioner vis-à-vis the coaccused who have already been granted similar relief. 9.
The principle of parity in matters relating to bail is firmly embedded in criminal jurisprudence and is founded upon the constitutional mandate of equality enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution of India. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has consistently held that similarly situated
accused should ordinarily receive similar treatment unless distinguishing circumstances exist.
10.
Having regard to the aforesaid circumstances, this Court is of the considered opinion that the present petitioner is entitled to the benefit of parity. In effect, the petitioner's prayer for grant of anticipatory bail deserves favourable consideration, subject to such conditions to secure his continued cooperation with the Investigating Agency and to ensure an unhindered investigation.
11.
Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is enlarged on anticipatory bail, subject to the following conditions: (A) The petitioner/Accused No.5 shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Khillaghanapur Police Station, Wanaparthy District, on or before 08.07.2026. Upon such surrender or in the event of arrest the Station House Officer shall release him on bail on execution of 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 said officer.
(B) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating officer as and when required from the date of his release on bail and shall cooperate with the investigation in all respects.
(C) The petitioner shall furnish his complete residential address and contact details to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated throughout the course of investigation.
(D) The petitioner shall not either directly or indirectly induce, threaten, influence, or contact any prosecution witness, nor shall he tamper with the prosecution evidence in any manner whatsoever. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed. __________________ N.TUKARAMJI, J Date: 23.06.2026 mmr
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI CRIMINAL PETITION No.8846 OF 2026 DATE : 23.06.2026 mmr