High Court · 2025

Order

These Criminal Petitions are filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) seeking anticipatory bail to the petitioners/accused Nos.2, 4 and 5 in Crime No.85 of 2025 on the file of Musheerabad Police Station, Hyderabad registered for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 108 read with 3 (5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’) wherein the petitioner is arrayed as A-2 in Crl.P.No.7279 of 2025 and A-4 and A-5 in Crl.P.No.7288 of 2025.

2. Since all these criminal petitions are arising out of the same crime, this Court is disposing of all the criminal petitions by way of a common order.

3. The case of the prosecution is that on 27.03.2025 at 18:15

hrs, a written complaint was received from Smt. Anndela Pushpa Latha alleging that her daughter, A. Sowjanya , was driven to suicide due to continued harassment by her in-laws. Sowjanya was married on 13.11.2024 to A. Shabarish (31, Finance professional). Post-marriage, repeated minor 2 harassment from her in-laws over household responsibilities. Sowjanya had a congenital heart condition for which surgery had been done prior to marriage. The family had consulted doctors who cleared her for marriage, but this medical history was not disclosed to the groom’s family. On 26.03.2025, Sowjanya’s mother-in-law Pushpalatha called the complainant, asking her to take Sowjanya back. When the complainant and her family reached the in-laws' home in Moosapet, they were accused of hiding Sowjanya’s heart condition and were asked to take her back. During the confrontation, Shabarish’s brother Puneeth allegedly told Sowjanya, "If you want to die, go to your home and die in front of all of us." The complainant brought her daughter back home to Musheerabad around 23:30 hrs. On the morning of

27.03.2025, at around 08:30 hrs, Sowjanya jumped from the 3rd floor of the building. Despite efforts to save her, she died while undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital between 15:30 and 16:00 hrs. The complainant has alleged that Shabarish, his brother Puneeth, mother Pushpalatha, and his two sisters are responsible for abetting Sowjanya’s suicide and has requested legal action against them. Based on this complaint, a case was registered. 3

4. Heard Mr.Y. Soma Srinath Reddy, learned counsel for petitioners and Mr.Syed Yasar Mamoon, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondent-State.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners have not committed the offence and they were falsely implicated in the above crime. The marriage of A-1 was performed with the deceased on 13.11.2024 and since then the petitioners never lived with the A-1 and deceased. He further submitted that petitioners never harassed the deceased for bringing additional dowry or instigated the deceased to commit suicide at any point of time. He further submitted even according to the allegations made in the complaint the ingredients under Section 108 of BNS are not attracted against the petitioners. He further submitted that the main allegations are against A-1, who was arrested on 31.03.2025 and he was enlarged on bail pursuant to the orders in Crl.P.No.5575 of 2025 dated 29.04.2025. The petitioner No.2 is mother of A-1 being house wife and she is suffering with old age ailments. The petitioner Nos.4 and 5 are married sisters of A-1 and they are living with their family and they are not having any criminal antecedents. Learned counsel for the petitioners 4 further submits that the petitioners shall abide by the conditions, which are going to be imposed by this Court, and they are ready to cooperate with the investigation. Hence, the petitioners may be enlarged on bail.

6. Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that petitioners have committed grave offence. He further submitted that there are serious allegations against the petitioners and investigation is at threshold. Taking into consideration the above said grounds, the petitioners are not entitled for grant of anticipatory bail. At this stage, if the petitioners are granted bail, they will interfere with the investigation and influence the witnesses. Hence, prayed to dismiss these petitions.

7. Having considered the rival submissions made by the respective parties and after perusal of the material available on record, it reveals that petitioner/A-2 is mother of A-1 and petitioners/A-4 and A-5 are sisters of A-1. The record further reveals that A-1 against whom the major allegations are leveled was arrested on 31.03.2025 and this Court granted regular bail to him in Crl.P.No.5575 of 2025 vide order dated 29.04.2025. Even according to the learned Additional Public Prosecutor 14 5 witnesses are examined and major portion of investigation is completed and petitioners are not having any criminal antecedents.

8. Taking into consideration the said facts, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners/accused Nos.2,4 and 5subject to the following conditions.

1. The petitioners/accused Nos.2, 4 and 5 shall surrender before the Station House Officer of Musheerabad, Police Station, Hyderabad, on or before 02.07.2025, and on such surrender, the said Station House Officer petitioners/accused Nos.2, 4 and 5 on bail on their executing a personal bond for Rs.15,000/- (Rupees fifteen thousand only) with two sureties, for a like sum each. release

2. After release, the petitioners/accused Nos.2, 4 and 5 shall appear before the concerned SHO as and when required till completion of investigation.

3. After release, the petitioners/accused Nos.2, 4 and 5 shall not influence the witnesses or interfere with the investigation.

4. The petitioners/accused Nos.2, 4 and 5 shall abide by the other conditions stipulated in Section 482 (2) Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 and co-operate with investigating the case. Investigating Officer

5. The petitioners/accused Nos.2, 4 and 5 after release on anticipatory bail, if they are indulged in similar 6 offence, liberty is granted to the respondent to file application for cancellation of anticipatory bail.

9. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition are allowed. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, stand closed. Date: 24.06.2025 _______________________ J.SREENIVAS RAO, J 7 111 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE J. SREENIVAS RAO CRIMINAL PETITION Nos.7279 and 7288 of 2025 Date:24.06.2025