O R D E R

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking the Court to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 8 in the event of their arrest in connection with Crime No.346 of 2023 of Karimnagar-I Town Police Station, Karimnagar District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 120b, 354, 406, 417, 465, 477, 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C.

2. Heard Sri S.Sathish Reddy, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners as well as Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

3. Without going into the merits of the case, since the punishment prescribed for the offences alleged against the petitioners are less than seven (07) years, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the petitioners to appear before the Investigating Officer on or before 25.06.2026 between 11:00 a.m. and 05:00 p.m. and in turn, the Investigating Officer is directed to follow the procedure laid down under Section 35 (3) of BNSS (previously Section 41-A of Cr.P.C.) and also the guidelines formulated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar¹1 (2014) 8 SCC 273 scrupulously. However, the petitioners shall submit their defense and co-operate with the Investigating Officer as and when required by furnishing information and produce all relevant documents/material required for the purpose of the investigation and the Investigating Officer shall consider the same before filing appropriate report before the learned Magistrate concerned.

4. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is disposed of.

Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall also stand closed.