Pothuganti Babul Saheb Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

Pothuganti Babul Saheb Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None by adjudication; the Writ Petition was closed (no order as to costs) as the account had already been defreezed on 15.04.2026 at the 3rd respondent's request, rendering further adjudication unnecessary.

Issue for consideration

Whether the action of the 2nd respondent in freezing the petitioner's Bank Account No.31176629017 (SBI, Panguluru branch) without notice, intimation or passing any order is illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory, contrary to natural justice principles and violative of Articles 14 and 21, and whether the 2nd respondent should be directed to defreeze the petitioner's salary account.

Court's answer

In view of the submissions of the learned Standing Counsel for the 2nd respondent (that the account had already been defreezed at the 3rd respondent's request), the court held that further adjudication in the case was not required.

Ratio / Principle

The Writ Petition is accordingly closed, with no order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition No. 7716 of 2026, High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati (Special Original Jurisdiction), decided 17.04.2026 by Justice Battu Devanand. The petitioner, an accountant with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 declaring the 2nd respondent-bank's freezing of his salary account No.31176629017 (State Bank of India, Panguluru branch, Prakasam district) illegal and arbitrary for want of notice, intimation or any order, alleging violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of Bharat, and sought defreezing; IA No.1 of 2026 under Section 151 CPC sought interim defreezing. At hearing, the bank's Standing Counsel submitted that the account had been frozen during the pendency of Crime No.6 of 2026 at the 3rd respondent's request, and that after verification and progress of investigation the police had requested defreezing, upon which the account was defreezed on 15.04.2026 and normal operations permitted. Holding that further adjudication was not required, the court closed the Writ Petition with no order as to costs, and miscellaneous petitions were directed to stand closed.

APHC010145902026

[3207]

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

FRIDAY,THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND WRIT PETITION NO: 7716/2026

Between:

POTHUGANTI BABUL SAHEB, S/O. CHINNA HIMAM SAHEB, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, OCCUPATION ACCOUNTANT IN COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA R/O. 41-21/4-6A, GROUND FLOOR, KORADA VIJAYKUMAT STREET, KRISHNALANKA, VIJAYAWADA - 520013, N.T.R DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADES

...PETITIONER

AND

THE UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, KARTHAVYAPATH NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110001.

THE STATE BANK OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS BRANCH MANAGER, PANGULURU BRANCH, J.PANGULURU, PRAKASAM DISTRICT - 523214.

THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, KANDUKURU TOWN POLICE STATION, KANDUKURU, PRAKASAM DISTRICT - 523105.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 2ND respondent in freeze of Bank Account No.31176629017 of State Bank of India, Panguluru

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branch, Prakasam district without issuing any notice, without any intimation, without passing any order to the petitioner as illegal, arbitrary discrimination, against to the natural principles of justice and violation of articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of Bharat and consequently direct the 2ND respondent to defreeze the petitioners salary account No.31176629017, State Bank of India, Panguluru branch, Prakasam district and pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2026

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased Pleased to direct the 2ND respondent to defreeze the salary Bank Account No.31176629017 of State Bank of India, Panguluru branch, Prakasam district of the petitioner and pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.GUNDALA SIVA PRASADA REDDY

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.S SRAVANA SANDHYA (CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL)

2.GP FOR HOME

3.VENKATA RAMA RAO KOTA

The Court made the following:

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND

WRIT PETITION No: 7716 of 2026

ORDER: -

This writ petition is filed against the action of the 2^nd respondent in freezing the bank account of the petitioner in 2^nd respondent-Bank.

During the course of hearing of this case today, Mr. Venkata Rama Rao Kota, learned Standing Counsel for the 2^nd respondent-Bank on instructions would submit that as per the request of the 3^rd respondent during the pendency of the criminal case in Crime No.6 of 2026, the bank account bearing No.31176629017, standing in the name of the petitioner was frozen to prevent further transactions.

Learned Standing Counsel further submits that after due verification and progress investigation, it is found that the freezing of the said account is no longer required for the purpose of investigation and accordingly the 3^rd respondent requested the bank to defreeze the account of the petitioner and to allow his normal bank operations. Considering the request of the 3^rd respondent on 15.04.2026, the bank account of the petitioner is defreezed and allowed the petitioner for normal operations.

In view of the submissions of the learned Standing Counsel for the 2^nd respondent, in our considered view, further adjudication in this case is not required.

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Accordingly, this Writ Petition is closed. There shall be no order

as to costs.

Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.

_________________________

JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND

Date: 17.04.2026

SA

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THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND

WRIT PETITION NO.7716 of 2026

Dt.17.04.2026 SA