Jamalapuram Ramanarsimha Rao v. The State of Telangana

that the petitioner is arrayed as accused No.2 in FIR No.05/RCO-ACB-WRL/2026 dated 20.04.2026 on the file of ACB, Warangal Range. The offences alleged against the petitioner are punishable under Section 7(a), 13(1)(b) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) and Section 61(1) BNS. He further submits that a surprise check was conducted by DSP, ACB Warangal along with team on 02.04.2026 vide SC No.01/SC-ACB-WRL/2026, during which unaccounted cash of Rs.47,450/-, seventy (70) unregistered documents from private document writers, and four mobile phones were seized. He further submits that - 3 - accused Nos.1 and 2 had engaged private document writers/agents and allowed them unauthorized access into the office premises for the systematic collection of bribe amounts from applicants and the private document writers and deposited the amounts into bank accounts and further transferred the same to various accounts/UPI IDs as per the instructions of AO-1 and AO-2. It is further submitted that the alleged AO-1 has collected a sum of Rs.41,29,125/- through document writers and AO-2 has collected an amount of Rs.74,000/- and in the remand case dairy it is stated that AO-1 collected a sum of Rs.16,23,000/-. Accordingly AO-1 and AO-2 together had been produced before the learned Special Court for SPE & ACB Cases-cum-III Additional District & Sessions Judge, Warangal wherein the said Court vide order dated 21.04.2026 directed for 15 days judicial custody upon the petitioner along with AO-1. While so, the petitioner filed regular bail before this Court in Crl.P.No.6350 of 2026 and the same was dismissed as withdrawn on

27.04.2026 as the ACB filed a petition seeking custody in the Sessions Court. - 4 -

#4. Learned counsel further submits that in the instant case, the petitioner who is arrayed as accused No.2 filed bail application in Crl.M.P.No.82 of 2026 and vide order dated 01.05.2026 the learned trial Court granted bail imposing conditions. It is further submitted that the gravity of the offences registered against the petitioner is less than that of accused No.1, the petitioner has been remanded to judicial custody where personal liberty of the petitioner is denied by the respondent in the absence of susceptibility and hence, he prays this Court to grant regular bail to the petitioner.

#5. On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, appearing for the respondent opposed the same and submit that the petitioner came to this Court with unclean hands since bail petition is pending before the trial Court which is filed on 05.05.2026 and that the petitioner ought to have approached the learned trial Court seeking regular bail; that granting bail to accused No.1 is not a ground to grant regular bail to the petitioner. It is further submitted that the offences registered against the petitioner are grave in nature where evidence collected has to be - 5 - produced. He further submitted that the offences alleged against the petitioner are entirely different and distinct and the nature of offences are serious in nature and so many documents are to be collected during investigation; that the petitioner has been remanded to judicial custody on

20.04.2026 and since then he has been in judicial custody. He further submits that out of 44 witnesses, 22 witnesses were examined and it is necessary to examine the other witnesses and to file report before the trial Court and hence, he prays to dismiss the petition.

#6. Heard Ms. P.Sree Ramya, learned counsel for the petitioner/Accused No.2 and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, appearing for the respondent-State.

#7. Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor, it is admitted fact that the petitioner is arrayed as accused No.2 along with accused No.1 arising out of FIR No.05/RCO-ACB-WRL/2026 dated 20.04.2026 on the file of ACB, Warangal Range, wherein the learned trial Court granted bail to AO-1 vide order dated 01.05.2026. Since there is no regular public - 6 - prosecutor to assist the Court and on perusal of the order of the trial Court in so far as AO-1 and taking into consideration the reasons stated in the said order, accused No.1 was taken into police custody and in the instant case, accused No.2 was also taken into police custody by respondent police and further subjecting the petitioner to further interrogation would not arise. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for both parties, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioner/Accused No.2 subject to the following conditions: (i) The petitioner-accused No.2 shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Special Court for SPE & ACB Cases-cum-II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Warangal. (ii) On such release, the petitioner-accused No.2 shall appear before respondent authority on every Monday and Friday between 10:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m., until further orders and cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation of the case. (iii) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly tamper the witnesses. (iv) The petitioner shall not leave the Country without permission of the learned trial Court and he shall surrender his passport, if any, before the learned trial Court. - 7 - (v) The petitioner-accused No.2 shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437 (3) of Cr.P.C. (presently, Section 480 (3) of BNSS).

#8. Accordingly, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed. _____________________ E.V. VENUGOPAL, J Date: 14.05.2026 YVL/SUS