Mengani Gopal v. State Of Telangana,

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT

HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI CRIMINAL PETITION No.9487 OF 2026 DATE : 02.07.2026 Between:

Mengani Gopal and Another

...Petitioners

AND State of Telangana

...Respondent

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, "BNSS"), seeking the relief of anticipatory bail.

2.

The petitioner No.1 is not yet shown as accused and petitioner No.2 is arrayed as the accused No.4 in FIR No.170 of 2026 on the file of Keesara Police Station, Malkajgiri, registered for the offences punishable under Section 80 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, "BNS")

3.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.Syed Yasar Mahmood, learned Additional Public Prosecutor representing the respondent-State.

4.1. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 24.02.2026, the de facto complainant lodged a report stating that his second daughter had committed suicide on 23.02.2026. In the said report, the de facto complainant specifically stated that he did not entertain any suspicion regarding the death of his daughter and requested the police to take necessary action in accordance with law.

4.2. Subsequently, it appears that the de facto complainant made a further statement alleging that the accused persons, including the present petitioners, had subjected the deceased to harassment. On the basis of the said subsequent statement, the respondent police altered the relevant provisions of law and proceeded with the investigation against the accused. 5.1. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are only distant relatives of accused No.1 and have neither interfered with nor participated in the matrimonial life of

the deceased and accused No.1. It is contended that no specific overt acts have been attributed to the petitioners constituting the alleged offences.

5.2. He further submits that, after registration of the crime, the de facto complainant sought a financial settlement from the family members of accused No.1 and that, upon such settlement not materialising, the petitioners have been falsely implicated in the present crime. It is argued that the subsequent allegations constitute a material improvement over the original complaint, wherein no suspicion whatsoever had been expressed regarding the cause of the deceased's death. 5.3. It is further submitted that this Court, after considering the allegations and the material placed on record, has already granted anticipatory bail to accused Nos.1 to 3, namely, the husband and parents-in-law of the deceased, in Criminal Petition Nos.6242 of 2026 and 6843 of 2026. The learned counsel submits that the allegations against the present petitioners are substantially less serious than those levelled against the principal accused.

5.4. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioners undertake to cooperate fully with the investigation, shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever required, and are willing to abide by any condition that may be imposed by this Court. On the principle of parity, it is therefore prayed that the petitioners be enlarged on anticipatory bail. 6.

Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the application, contending that there are specific allegations against petitioner No.2 warranting a thorough investigation. It is further submitted that petitioner No.1 has not yet been formally arrayed as an accused. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor contends that the investigation is still in progress and that grant of anticipatory bail at this stage may impede a fair and effective investigation by affecting the availability of the petitioners for custodial interrogation, if required. Accordingly, dismissal of the application is sought. 7.

I have considered to the rival submissions and carefully perused the material available on record.

8.

Having regard to the material presently available on record, this Court finds that accused Nos.1 to 3, namely, the husband and parents-in-law of the deceased, against whom the principal allegations were levelled, have already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Criminal Petition Nos.6242 of 2026 and 6843 of 2026. While granting the said relief, this Court observed that the material then available did not disclose specific allegations sufficient to prima facie constitute the offence punishable under Section 80 of the BNS. This Court also took note of the contents of the suicide note left by the deceased, which, prima facie, indicated that she had attributed responsibility for her death to herself, as well as the medical material placed before the Court.

9.

The allegations against the present petitioners, who are stated to be distant relatives of accused No.1, are not shown to be more serious than those levelled against the principal accused who have already been granted anticipatory bail. At this stage, no distinguishing circumstance has been brought to the notice of this Court so as to justify adopting a different approach in the case of the present petitioners.

10.

In the present case, the petitioners have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation and there is no material presently placed before this Court indicating that they are likely to abscond or evade the process of law. Therefore, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and keeping all issues open for investigation, this Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioners have made out a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail on the principle of parity. 11.

Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed, and the petitioner shall be enlarged on anticipatory bail, subject to following conditions to ensure their availability during the course of investigation and to adequately safeguard the interests of the prosecution.

(A) The petitioners shall surrender before the Station House Officer, Keesara Police Station, Malkajgiri on or before 16.07.2026. Upon such surrender or in the event of arrest the Station House Officer shall release them on bail on execution of a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each, with two

sureties for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the said officer.

(B) The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating officer on every Saturday between 10.00AM to 03.00PM, for a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of their release on bail and shall cooperate with the investigation in all respects.

(C) The petitioners shall furnish their complete residential address and contact details to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated throughout the course of investigation.

(D) The petitioners shall not either directly or indirectly induce, threaten, influence, or contact any prosecution witness, nor shall they tamper with the prosecution evidence in any manner whatsoever.

(E) The petitioners shall strictly comply with all the conditions contemplated under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.

(F) Any wilful breach or violation of any of the aforesaid conditions shall render the petitioners liable to appropriate proceedings before the court below, including cancellation of bail, in accordance with the provisions of the BNSS and other applicable law.

Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

_______________ N.TUKARAMJI, J Date: 02.07.2026 CHS

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI CRIMINAL PETITION No.9487 OF 2026 DATE : 02.07.2026 CHS