THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE J.SREENIVAS RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.6138 of 2025

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) seeking anticipatory bail to the petitioner/accused No.2 in Crime No.198 of 2024, on the file of Police Station, Adilabad I-Town, Adilabaad District, registered for the offence punishable under Section 308 (5)

of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the de facto complainant has obtained all the necessary permissions from the concerned Departments. On 17.04.2025 at about 14:00 hours the petitioner/accused No.2 along with other accused have approached the complainant and threatened him to pay Rs.5,00,000/- to run exhibition otherwise they will not let it continue. Out of fear, the complainant gave them Rs.10,000/-. As the accused were not satisfied with the said amount, they abused the complainant in filthy language, beat him with hands and threatened and pressurized him to arrange the money. Basing on the same a case in Crime No.198 of 2025 was registered.

3. Heard Mr.S.Ravi Kiran Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.Arun Kumar Dodla, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondent-State.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has not committed the offence and he was falsely implicated in the above crime. He further submitted that the ingredients of offence under Section 308 (5) of BNS are not attracted. He further submitted that the petitioner is a business man and he is not having any criminal antecedents and he is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation and will abide by the conditions, which are going to be imposed by this Court and hence, prayed for anticipatory bail.

5. Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the petitioner and the other accused have committed grave offence and the investigation is under progress. Therefore, if the petitioner is granted anticipatory bail, there is every chance to influence the witnesses and to interfere with the investigation.

Hence, prayed to dismiss the petition.

6. Having considered the submissions made by the respective parties and after perusal of the material available on record, it reveals that the petitioner and other accused had threatened the de facto complainant in connection with organizing an exhibition in Adilabad, pursuant to which the de facto complainant paid an amount of ₹10,000/-. Despite this, the petitioner and others allegedly demanded an additional amount of ₹5,00,000/-, abused the defacto complainant in filthy language, physically assaulted him, and threatened him with dire consequences. Even according to the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, the investigation by the Investigating Officer is currently in progress. Taking into consideration of the gravity of the offence, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, at this juncture.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is dismissed.

Miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed.

_______________________ J. SREENIVAS RAO, J Date: 07.05.2025 Lk/sa