Adhithya Manohar vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh

APHC010721822025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396] (Special Original Jurisdiction)

THURSDAY, THE TWENTY SECOND DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 13619/2025

Between:

1. ADHITHYA MANOHAR, D.NO. 96/35, 6TH BLOCK, SHARADAMBA BUILDING, JAYANAGAR, BANGALORE

...PETITIONER/ACCUSED

AND

1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, AMARAVATHI

2. PUTLURU HITHESH REDDY, S/O. PRAKASAM REDDY, R/O. D.NO.4- 10-293, PRASANTH NAGAR, PULIVENDULA TOWN, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT. RESPONDENT NO.2 IS IMPLEADED AS PER THE COURT'S ORDER DATED 08.01.2026 IN CRL.P.NO.13619 OF 2025.

...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S):

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 may be pleased to Enlarge the Petitioner on bail in Crime No. 383/2025 of Pulivendula Urban Police Station, on such terms and conditions as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper

IA NO: 1 OF 2026

Petition under Section 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 may be pleased to implead Putluru Hithesh Reddy, S/o. Prakasam Reddy, R/o. D.No.4-10-293, Prasanth Nagar, Pulivendula Town, Kadapa 2

District as 2nd respondent in the above Criminal Petition No. 13619 OF 2025 in the interest of justice and pass

Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:

1. SURAMPUDI HRUTHIK

Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S):

1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 3

THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 13619/2025 ORDER :

The instant petition under Sections 480 and 483 of Bharatiya

Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2024 (for short 'BNSS') read with Sections 437

and 439 of Code of Criminal Procedure (for short 'Cr.P.C.'), has been filed

by the Petitioner/Accused No. 2, seeking regular bail in Crime No. 383/2025

of Pulivendula Urban Police Station, registered for the offences punishable

under Sections 319(2), 318(4), 308(2), 308(6), 336(3) read with 3(5) of

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS') and Section 66(C) and (D)

of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

2. Heard Sri Shubash, Sri Surampudi Hruthik, Sri P.Harsha, Sri

Benantonio, learned counsel for the Petitioners and Mrs. K.Priyanka

Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, representing the State.

3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that it is a case of Cheating,

Forgery and offence relating to Information Technology Act. The accused

committed extortion by way of digital arrest and extracted money from the

victim. The de facto complainant lodged a report stating that the accused,

posing as officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), leveled false

allegations against the complainant's father and induced fear in him. Under

threat and coercion, the accused extorted a total amount of Rs.1,62,83,000/-

from the victim. The accused further intimidated him by warning that the

matter was covered under the so-called National Secret Act and threatened 4

him with severe consequences if the incident was disclosed to anyone. It is

the further case of the prosecution that due to the extreme mental stress and

pressure caused by the acts of the accused, the complainant's father suffered

a heart attack and succumbed, thereby resulting in his death. Based on the

said report, the present crime was registered against the accused for the

aforesaid offences, and investigation is taken up.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that they have

submitted a representation to the Superintendent of Police dated 25.11.2025

in this matter about their unlawful detention of the petitioner since 12.11.2025.

Learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that the accused in this

matter i.e., A-4 and A-5 are already arrested and in judicial custody. Learned

counsel for the petitioner would further submit that the A-5 was released on

bail by the learned Magistrate Court. In fact, there are more serious

allegations leveled against the A-5. Learned counsel for the petitioner would

further submit that no other criminal cases are pending against the petitioner.

The petitioner herein has been in judicial custody since 28.11.2025.

5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that so far as the

investigation is concerned, six (6) witnesses were examined. Huge amount of

scam is involved in this matter. This is a case of online digital arrest scam.

Investigation is pending for arrest of A-7 to A-10. Learned Assistant Public

Prosecutor fairly conceded that the A-5 was released on bail in this matter. 5

6. Considering the submissions and a keen perusal of the material on

record, since the Petitioner has been in judicial custody since 28.11.2025,

the question of tampering with the evidence, does not arise. Hence, this

Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner on bail.

7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following

conditions:

i) The petitioner/Accused No.2 shall be released on bail on his executing a personal bond for Rs.20,000/- (Rupees twenty thousand only) with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Pulivendula.

ii) On release, the petitioner/Accused No.2 shall appear before the Station House Officer, concerned, once in a week i.e., on every Saturday between at 10.30 a.m. and 05.00 p.m., till filing of the charge sheet.

iii) The petitioner/Accused No.2 shall deposit his pass port before the concerned Court and shall not leave the country without prior permission of the Court.

iv) The petitioner/Accused No.2 shall not directly or indirectly make any statements relating to this case in the social media or any other social network platform.

v) The petitioner/Accused No.2 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the investigating police officer.

6 vi) The petitioner/Accused No.2 shall cooperate with the Investigating Agency as and when he is called for investigation purpose.

__________________________________ DR.VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA, J Date: 22.01.2026 Note: Issue CC today, B/o.

UPS 7 31

THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 13619/2025

22.01.2026

Note: Issue CC today, B/o.

UPS