1. This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, who is arrayed as accused No.1 in Crime No.59 of 2026 of Metpally Police Station, Jagitial District, registered for the offence punishable under Section 318(4) of the BNS.

2. Heard Sri G. Raghu, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri M. Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent No.1-State.

3. Without going into the merits of the case, since the punishment prescribed for the offences alleged against the petitioner are less than seven (07) years, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the petitioner to appear before the Investigating Officer on or before 07.04.2026 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 Bihar ((2014) 8 SCC 273) scrupulously. However, the petitioner shall submit his defence 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.