HON’BLE SMT. JUSTICE JUVVADI SRIDEVI CRIMINAL PETITION No.10596 of 2024

ORDER :

Petitioner/accused No.1 has filed this petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail in Cr.No.849 of 2024 of P.S. Raidurgam, registered for the offences under Sections 143 and 144 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3 to 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

2. Heard Sri Dunna Ambedkar, learned counsel for petitioner/accused No.1 and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the State and perused the record.

3. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner/accused No.1 and accused No.2 hatched a plan to organize brothel house and in that process, they took a flat on rent. The petitioner/ the said flat and accused No.2 is organizing the brothel house and collecting money from the customers. On 27.08.2024, on reliable information, the Police have inspected the said premises and found one customer engaged with a sex worker.

4. Learned counsel for petitioner/accused No.1 submits that though the petitioner/accused No.1 is in no way concerned with the alleged offences, basing on the confession of co-accused, he was falsely implicated in the case. He further submits that the petitioner/accused No.1 is eking out his livelihood by working as a Delivery Boy in Swiggy and he is having old aged parents. He further submits that the petitioner/accused No.1 is not having any criminal antecedents and most part of the investigation is completed, except filing of charge sheet, and hence, prayed for grant of anticipatory bail.

5. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor, on the other hand, opposed the application stating that the petitioner/accused No.1 procured female sex workers from various states for prostitution and to earn money easily. The petitioner/accused No.1 is paying amounts to the sex workers as well as to accused No.2, who manages the affairs of the brothel house. He further submits that investigation is in progress and if the petitioner/ accused No.1 is released on bail at this stage, he may tamper with the evidence and may threaten the witnesses, and hence, prayed to dismiss the petition.

6. Taking note of the submissions made by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner/accused No.1.

7. Petition is accordingly dismissed.

____________________ JUVVADI SRIDEVI, J Date: 12.09.2024 rev