Mannepalli Sharath, v. The State Of Telangana, Through Sho, P.S. It Pocharam

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.16106 of 2025 DATE: 19.12.2025 BETWEEN:

Mannepalli Sharath .....petitioner/accused No.1 And The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana at Hyderabad.

.....Respondent/complainant

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, who is arrayed as accused No.1 in Crime No.532 of 2025 before the IT Pocharam

Corridor Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionrate, registered for the offences punishable under Section 69, 89, 318(4) read with 3(5) of BNS.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that in October 2024, the victim woman matched with the petitioner through Christian Matrimony, and after initial objections regarding dowry, accused No.2 allegedly convinced her to proceed with the marriage. In April 2025, A1 allegedly took the victim to Tulip Hotel, Annojiguda, had sexual intercourse with her on the promise of marriage, and recorded her private photographs. It was alleged that he thereafter blackmailed her into repeated sexual relations, resulting in pregnancy. On 13.09.2025, he allegedly gave her tablets leading to an abortion. When she insisted on marriage, the petitioner and his family members allegedly refused, abused her, and threatened her. 3.

Heard Sri Baglekar Akash Kumar, 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 petitioner submitted that the relationship between the petitioner and the complainant was consensual, and the FIR itself reflected no intention to cheat from the beginning and that the ingredients of Section 318(4) BNS were not attracted as there was no dishonest inducement, delivery of property, or misappropriation alleged. He further submitted that substantial investigation had already been completed. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant pre-arrest 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 the petitioner stating that the allegations leveled against the petitioner are serious and henious in nature. Further, the investigation was not yet completed. Therefore, at this stage, granting of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner does not arise. Hence, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition. 6.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel on and upon a careful perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the petitioner and the de facto complainant were in a relationship since April, 2024.

Though it is alleged that the de facto complainant conceived and that the pregnancy was terminated in September, 2025, no complaint was lodged with the police at that point of time. The present complaint came to be filed subsequently, in November, 2025, after disputes arose between the parties with regard to marriage. Having regard to the nature of the allegations, the delay in lodging the complaint, this Court deems it fit to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner subject to the following conditions:

i.

The petitioner shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Pocharam IT Corridor Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionerate, within two weeks from today, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer shall release him on bail on executing a personal bond for Rs.25,000/- 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 Monday 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, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 19.12.2025 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.16106 of 2025 Date: 19.12.2025 sai