Domathoti Swarupa Rani v. The State of Andhra Pradesh
Anticipatory bail – Section 482, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Case brief
What is this about?
Single-judge anticipatory bail order of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh (K. Sreenivasa Reddy J.), Criminal Petition No.965 of 2025, decided 07.02.2025. Petitioners A3 (Domathoti Swarupa Rani) and A5 (Irlapati Gladis Christiyana), arraigned in FIR/Crime No.236/2024 of Chilakalapudi Urban PS (offences under Ss.64(1), 96 r/w 49, 137(2) BNS 2023, S.4 POCSO Act, Ss.9 & 10 Child Marriage Act) over the marriage of the victim girl with A1, moved this Court under Section 482 BNSS after the Special Judge (POCSO), Machilipatnam (order dated 02.01.2025 in Crl.MP No.1533 of 2024) had confined their anticipatory bail to the period till charge-sheet filing and directed them to seek regular bail thereafter. Finding allegations against the petitioners limited to knowledge of the marriage, the Court held such a direction impermissible and allowed the petition, granting anticipatory bail on Rs.10,000/- personal bonds with two sureties each, weekly Saturday reporting (10.00 AM–01.00 PM) before the SHO till charge-sheet filing, and standard non-interference conditions. Keywords: anticipatory bail, Section 482 BNSS, POCSO, child marriage, BNS offences, charge-sheet, Krishna district, Machilipatnam.