IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.17255 of 2025 DATE: 08.01.2026 BETWEEN:

Gurepa Manish …..petitioner/accused No.2 And The State of Telangana, Rep. by Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad.

…..Respondent/complainant

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed praying this Court to enlarge the petitioner, on bail, who is arrayed as accused No.2 in Crime No.220 of 2025 before the Tukaramgate Police Station, Hyderabad, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 74, 352, 351(2) of BNS and Section 11 read with 12 of POCSO Act, 2012.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the complaint was lodged on 17.10.2025 by the mother of the victim girl, stating that her elder daughter, a student of Government Polytechnic College, East Marredpally, had been subjected to repeated sexual harassment by one Manish, a Sub-Staff employee. The victim revealed that Manish had misbehaved with her on several occasions, including forcibly touching her and threatening to share her photos if she disclosed the matter.

3. Heard Sri Mohammed Ghouse Pasha, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent – State.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was innocent and falsely implicated, as the allegations were primarily against accused No.1 and his name was added later and that the petitioner was arrested without proper inquiry, had good antecedents, and was a permanent resident with no criminal history. He further submitted that the investigation was already completed and the victim’s statement was also recorded. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5. On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner stating that the allegations leveled against the petitioner are serious and heinous in nature. Further, the investigation was not yet completed. At this stage, granting of bail to the petitioner does not arise. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6. In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and on a perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 21.10.2025. The victim is aged about 16 years. The main allegation against the petitioner is that he, along with the prime accused, had misbehaved with the minor victim girl on several occasions by touching her inappropriately and subjecting her to harassment, thereby causing mental agony. Further, as seen from the record, there are serious allegations against the petitioner involving offences under the POCSO Act, which are grave in nature. Considering the age of the victim, the seriousness of the allegations, and the stage of the proceedings, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to grant bail to the petitioner at this juncture and the same is liable to be dismissed.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is dismissed.

Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

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K. SUJANA, J Date: 08.01.2026 SAI THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.17255 of 2025 Date: 08.01.2026 SAI