THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NARSING RAO NANDIKONDA CRIMINAL PETITION No.6466 of 2025

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNSS’) by the petitioners, who are arrayed as accused Nos.1 to 6, seeking bail in Crime No.176 of 2025 of Panjagutta Police Station, Hyderabad, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 308(5), 74, 76, 115(2) and 292 r/w 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’).

2. The case of the prosecution in brief is that the on 06-03-2025 at 7:00 PM, while the complainant was at Panjagutta Signal, she was verbally abused, physically assaulted, and stripped in public by Dimple, Ashwini, Sai, Hamsha, Chaitra, Lili, Sahasra, and others, allegedly on the instructions of Ankitha Naidu and Simran Malik. They also snatched Rs.2,500/- from her blouse. The complainant stated that for the past three months, Ankitha, Simran, and other transgender individuals have been continuously harassing her mentally and physically, demanding money. Due to this, she had moved to Begumpet near Green Mini Mart. She claims to have video evidence of the extortion, and nearby shopkeepers also have CCTV footage of the assault. Basing on the same, a case was registered in crime No.176 of 2025.

3. Heard Dr.Uduthala Jagan, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.E.Ganesh, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent-State.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners have not committed the alleged offence and they were falsely implicated in the above crime. He further submitted the petitioners were arrested on 07.03.2025 and since then they have been in judicial custody. He further submitted that the material part of the investigation is completed and the petitioners shall abide by the conditions, which are going to be imposed by this Court, and they are also ready to cooperate with the investigation, if any. Hence, the petitioners may be enlarged on bail.

5. Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the specific allegations are levelled against the petitioners and the investigation is still under progress and if the petitioners are granted bail at this stage, they may tamper with the evidence and may threaten the witnesses, and hence, prayed to dismiss the petition.

6. Having considered the rival submissions made by the respective parties and after perusal of the entire material available on record, it reveals that the allegations made against the petitioners are serious in nature. Even according to the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, investigation is under progress.

7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case as well as the gravity of the offence, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioners.

8. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is dismissed.

Miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed.

_______________________________________

JUSTICE NARSING RAO NANDIKONDA Date: 14.05.2025 sa/vsl