The court emphasized the severity of the offence and the incompleteness of the investigation in denying bail.

ORDER:

The present Criminal Petition is filed seeking this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail, who is arrayed as accused in Crime No.605 of 2025 before the Meerpet Police Station, Rachakonda Commissionerate, registered for the offence punishable under Section 103(1) of the BNS .

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 13.05.2025, the Police received a statement of deceased/de-facto complainant stating that she has two daughters and one son and that her husband is working in GHMC-Malakpet. On 12.05.2025, she went to attend her duty, but her husband did not attend his duties and consumed liquor. On the very same day, she returned home and questioned him about why he consumed liquor by not attending his duties. Meanwhile, the accused abused the de-facto complainant in filthy language, for which, she threatened that she would pour kerosene on herself, set fire, and die. The accused became angry, poured kerosene on her, and set her on fire. She started shouting loudly. Hearing her hues and cries, her daughter noticed the incident and informed her uncle. Immediately, they extinguished the fire and shifted her to the hospital. However, she succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment. Based on this, the Police registered the case.

3. Heard Sri K. Raghu Veer, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri Arun Kumar Doddla, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent-

State.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that there are no allegations against the petitioner to attract the offence under Section 103 of BNS . He further submitted that the petitioner will cooperate with the investigation. He also submitted that the petitioner is languishing in jail since 14.07.2025 and the material part of the investigation is already completed. Therefore, he prayed the Court to allow the Criminal Petition by granting bail.

5. On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner contending that though the original case was registered under Section 109 of the BNS , after the death of the deceased, the section of law was altered under Section 103(1) of the BNS . He further submitted that the petitioner was arrested and the investigation is not yet completed. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6. Considering the submissions made by both the parties and the material available on record, it appears that the alleged incident took place on 12.05.2025 and the deceased/de-facto complainant succumbed to the injuries in the month of June. Considering the severity of the offence and the fact that the investigation is not yet completed, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage.