N Praveen Kumar, v. The State Of Telangana,

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.14631 of 2025 ORAL ORDER:

The Criminal Petition is filed praying this Court to grant pre arrest bail to the petitioner who is arrayed as accused in Crime No.1086 of 2024 before the Chandanagar Police Station, Cyberabad Commissionerate, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 420 and 409 of IPC. 2.

The brief facts of the case are that the de facto complainant lodged a report before the police stating that during the Lok Adalat 2024, while he, along with another individual, was attempting to retrieve court files in accordance with the PT statement of compoundable cases for disposal before the Court, they discovered irregularities in the court files of PS Chandanagar. Specifically, they found certain cases bearing fake CC and PRC numbers, and in some instances, the seized case property had not been deposited in the Court. Consequently, the complainant requested the police to take appropriate action. Based on the said complaint, the police registered a case for the alleged offences.

3.

Heard B. Jithender, learned counsel for petitioner, and Sri D. Arum Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent - State.

4.

Learned counsel for petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent of the offences alleged and that the alleged discrepancies occurred during the COVID period, when physical contact was restricted in accordance with COVID protocols and Court directives. As a result, there were inconsistencies in the numbering of cases, which did not tally. Although the petitioner was initially suspended from service, he was subsequently reinstated, as no offence was found to have been committed by him. Therefore, he prayed this Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner by allowing this criminal petition.

5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for petitioner stating that there are severe set of allegations against the petitioner and the investigation in the case is not yet completed. Therefore, prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6.

Having regard to rival submissions made and on going through the material placed on record, it is noted that the petitioner was serving as a Court Constable during the relevant period. Due to discrepancies between the case numbers assigned by the Court and those recorded by the police, the petitioner was placed under suspension and a criminal case was registered against him. However, he has since been reinstated to the same post. In view of these circumstances, the Court is of the opinion that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not warranted and deems it appropriate to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, subject to compliance with the following conditions:

i.

The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Chandanagar Police Station, Cyberabad Commissionerate, within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release petitioner on bail, on his executing a personal bond for Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only), 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, 2023

and co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigating the case.

iii.

The petitioner shall appear before the concerned Investigating Officer on every Wednesday between 09:00 a.m, and 05:00 p.m., till the filing of the charge sheet 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: 20.11.2025 SS

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.14631 of 2025 Date: 20.11.2025 ss