(Prayer: Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Court pleased to enlarge the petitioner on Regular Bail in Cr.No.531 of 2025 on the file of the Court of the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mangalagiri, Guntur District, such terms and conditions as this Hon’ble Court deems fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.)

1. This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the BNSS, has been filed by the Petitioner herein/Accused No.1, seeking regular bail, in Cr.No.531 of 2025 of Mangalagiri Rural Police Station, registered for the offences punishable under Section 318(4), 351(3), 336(3), 336(2), 340(2), 61(2), 308(2) r/w 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023 (for brevity “BNS”).

2. Heard Sri V.R.Reddy Kovvuri, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that notice is served on the defacto complainant through police.

3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that, the defacto complainant gave a report stating that on 30.11.2025, the complainant along with others confronted the workers and A2 while two JCB machines were seen cutting trees on the complainant’s land. They showed an agreement dated 18.12.2023 in which the complainant had sold 10.27 acres of vacant land to A1, but the complainant do not even know who is A1 and the accused threatened the complainant that bigwigs were involved in the matter. A1 made fake documents in complainant’s name and forged all their signatures and the accused and some others conspired to grab the lands of the complainant.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner/accused No.1 was previously enlarged on regular bail vide Crl.M.P.No.786 of 2025 dated 24.12.2025 by the learned Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class-cum-Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mangalagiri. Subsequently, the Police, Mangalagiri P.S., filed an application dated 19.01.2026 in Crl.M.P.No.56 of 2026 on the file of the learned Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) and the same was allowed on 03.02.2026 by cancelling the bail granted earlier on the ground that the petitioner had violated the conditions imposed, by conducting a press meet and commented on the case. Since 03.02.2026, the petitioner has been in judicial custody. It is argued that the petitioner’s statements during the press meet were made in a moment of anguish and do not amount to misuse of bail or interference with justice, and therefore bail should be granted again.

5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor opposed the petition by contending that the petitioner’s statement that he would “see the end” of the complainant, amounts to criminal intimidation and misuse of the liberty granted, which could affect the fair course of the trial. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that the Court may pass appropriate orders.

6. Considering the submissions made by both sides and upon perusal of the material placed on record, the grievance of the complainant appears that, after his release on bail, the accused conducted a press meet and stated that he would “see the end” of the person who had lodged a false complaint against him. The record further reveals that, while granting bail, no condition was imposed restraining him from commenting on the case through social media or any other electronic media, which may have led the petitioner to address the press and make statements regarding the case that is still pending consideration before the Court. It appears that, in a state of anguish, he may have made the said statement; however, such a statement alone cannot constitute sufficient ground for cancellation of bail. In that view of the matter, this Court is inclined to grant regular bail to the petitioner/Accused No.1 on the following conditions:

                  i) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs. 20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Judicial Magistrate of I Class-cum-Civil Judge (Junior Division) Court, Mangalagiri.

                  ii) The petitioner/accused No.1, shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, twice in a week i.e., on every Wednesday and Saturday between 10:00 AM and 05:00 PM, till further orders.

                  iii) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required and cooperate with the investigation.

                  iv) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall not directly or indirectly induce, threaten or influence any witness acquainted with the facts of the case.

                  v) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence in any manner.

                  vi) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court concerned.

                  vii) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall furnish his residential address and contact details to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the Investigating Officer informed of any change of address.

                  viii) The petitioner/accused No.1, shall surrender his passport, if any, to the Investigating officer. If he claims that she do not have passport, he shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the Court concerned.

                  ix) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall furnish information relating to the offence if any, for the purpose of early conclusion of investigation.

                  x) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall refrain from conducting any press meets and shall not directly or indirectly make any statements relating to this case in the social media or any other social network platform

7. In the event of violation of any of the above conditions, the prosecution shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail.

8. It is also made clear that the observations made in this order are only for the purpose of deciding the bail applications and they shall not be construed as opinion on the merits of the Crime.

9. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is allowed.

As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed.