THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.13254 OF 2025

ORDER :

This criminal petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) by the petitioners/A.2, A.10, A.11, A.14 and 20 seeking anticipatory bail in connection with POR No.014 of 2025 of Forest Range Officer, Indenpally Range, Nirmal District. The offences alleged against the petitioners are under Sections 20(i)(ii)(c), 9(d)(iii)(iv) of the Telangana Forest Act, 1967 and under Sections 27, 29, 31 and 51(c) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.

2. Heard Sri Kodari Mallikarjun, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

3. The contention of learned counsel for the petitioners is that all the offences are punishable with below seven years and that the other accused were already remanded to judicial custody and there is apprehension of arrest to the petitioners. He further contended that there is no such encroachment of forest land by the petitioners. Hence, prayed this Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners.

4. On the other hand, learned