Sandeep Shah @ Deep 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.17371 of 2025 DATE: 31.12.2025 Between:

Sandeep Shah @ Deep .... Petitioner/Accused No.5 AND The State of Telangana, Rep. by the Station House Officer, P.S. Cyber Crime Station TSCSB, Through its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Judicature, at Hyderabad.

.... Respondent

O R D E R

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 480 & 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by the petitioner/accused No.5 seeking his enlargement on bail in Crime No.7 of 2024 of Cyber Crime Police Station (Hqrs), Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, Hyderabad. The offences alleged against the petitioner are under Sections 370, 386,

- 2 - 342, 420, 506 and 323 read with 120-B of IPC and Section 24 of Emigration Act.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 20.04.2024, the de-facto complainant lodged a report before the police stating that her son, Shiva Prasad, a graduate who previously worked in Hyderabad, was unemployed and sought overseas job opportunities through their neighbor Ajay Kumar, who introduced him to Kancharla Sai Prasad. Sai Prasad, through one Sada Sath, arranged a job in Cambodia and collected Rs.1,40,000/-, promising a computer operator position with a monthly salary of USD 950. However, upon arrival in Cambodia on 11.01.2024, Shiva Prasad discovered he had been deceived into joining an online fraud company, where he was forced to work 16-17 hours daily, confined without freedom, and his passport was seized. He further reported that 500-600 Indians were similarly engaged in fraudulent activities under coercion. The complainant requested legal action against the accused persons. Based on the said complaint, a case was registered against the petitioner for the aforementioned offences.

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Heard Sri Kuruva Aswatth Janaardhan, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State. 4.

The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offences and that other accused have already filed a compromise petition, which was referred to the Legal Services Authority, and that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 17.10.2025 and that the material part of the investigation has been completed. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioner.

5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner, contending that the allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature, and that under the guise of providing employment, the petitioner misled innocent unemployed youth, and therefore is not entitled to bail, particularly as the investigation is still pending. He, however, confirmed that the other accused have filed a compromise petition, which was referred to the Legal Services Authority.

- 4 - 6.

Considering the submissions made by the respective counsel and the material available on record, it is noted that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 17.10.2025. The allegations against accused Nos.1 to 3 and the petitioner are similar in nature, and as informed, accused Nos.1 to 3 have filed a compromise petition. In view of the overall facts and circumstances, and the filing of the compromise petition by the other accused, this Court deems it appropriate to grant bail to the petitioner, 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 VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Nampally, Hyderabad.

ii.

The petitioner 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.

- 5 - 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, the Criminal Petition is allowed. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date : 31.12.2025 SS Note:

CC today B/o.

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- 6 - THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.17371 OF 2025 DATE : 31.12.2025 SS Note:

CC today B/o.

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