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CDJ 2026 APHC 032
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| Court : High Court of Andhra Pradesh |
| Case No : Criminal Petition No. 12983, 12988 of 2025 |
| Judges: THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO |
| Parties : Mutnuru Uday Kiran Versus The State Of Andhra Pradesh |
| Appearing Advocates : For the Petitioner: A.S.C. Bose, Advocate. For the Respondent: Public Prosecutor. |
| Date of Judgment : 26-12-2025 |
| Head Note :- |
| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Sections 480 and 483 - |
| Summary :- |
1. Statutes / Acts / Rules Mentioned:
- Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
- Sections 420, 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
2. Catch Words:
- Bail
3. Summary:
The Court heard two criminal petitions filed under the BNSS seeking bail for the same petitioner accused in separate crimes (Crime No.22 of 2024 and Crime No.35 of 2022). The petitioner, a suspended SBI Branch Manager, had been in judicial custody for 81 days. The prosecution argued the investigation was ongoing and urged dismissal. After considering the gravity of the offences, the petitioner’s residence, and the fact that the seized documents were not in his possession, the Court decided to enlarge bail. Bail was granted on a bond of Rs.25,000 with two sureties and subject to stringent conditions including regular reporting to the police, travel restrictions, non‑commission of offences, cooperation with investigation, and surrender of passport. The petitions were consequently allowed.
4. Conclusion:
Petition Allowed |
| Judgment :- |
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Common Order:
1. The two Criminal Petitions are heard and disposed of by this common order albeit they are from different crimes, but the petitioner is one and the same.
2. Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.4 on bail in Crime No.22 of 2024 of CID Police Station, A.P. Mangalagiri, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.4 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for brevity ‘the I.P.C’) and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for brevity ‘the P.C. Act’).
3. Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.8 on bail in Crime No.35 of 2022 of CID Police Station, A.P. Mangalagiri, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.8 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for brevity ‘the I.P.C’) and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for brevity ‘the P.C. Act’).
4. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that the petitioner is a responsible Branch Manager has misused his position and granted loans irregularly. Certain important documents are yet to be recovered and some more accused are to be apprehended in this crime. Investigation is still at progressive stage and urged to dismiss the petitions.
5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record
6. As seen from the record, the petitioner is presently placed under suspension. He was working as a Branch Manager of the State Bank of India, ADB Branch. The petitioner was arrested on 07.10.2025 and has been in judicial custody for the past 81 days. He is a permanent resident of NGGO’s Colony, Akkayyapalem, Visakhapatnam, and has a fixed place of abode. The arrest of some more accused is nothing to do with the release of the petitioner. The documents which are to be seized are not in seisin of the petitioner. No application was filed seeking for custodial interrogation of the petitioner before the learned Trial Court. In Crime No.35 of 2022 an application was filed seeking for custodial interrogation of the petitioner and that application was allowed. The petitioner was taken into police custody for some period.
7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, gravity and nature of the allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 on bail with the following stringent conditions:
i. The Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 shall be enlarged on bail subject to he executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only), with two sureties each for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the Special Judge for Trial of SPE and ACB Court, Rajamahendravaram.
ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 shall appear before the Station House Officer, CID Police Station, A.P. Mangalarigi, on every Saturday in between 10:00 am and 05:00 pm, till cognizance is taken by the learned the Trial Court.
iii. The Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned.
iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future.
v. The Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 shall cooperate with the investigating officer in further investigation of the case and shall make himself available for interrogation by the investigating officer as and when required.
vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer.
vii. The Petitioner/Accused No.4 in Criminal Petition No.12983 of 2025 and the Petitioner/Accused No.8 in Criminal Petition No.12988 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the investigating officer. If he claims that he does not have a passport, he shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the Investigating Officer.
8. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed.
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