GUTTALA SRIDHAR Vs. STATE OF A.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Criminal Petition has been filed under Ss. 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity 'the BNSS '), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/ Sole Accused on bail in Crime No.223 of 2025 of Parawad Police Station, Anakapalli District registered against the Petitioner/Sole Accused herein for the offences punishable under Sec. 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'the BNS ').

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor and the learned Legal Aid Counsel for respondent No.2. Perused the record.Law Legislation References

(3.) The petitioner is aged about 56 years and has been working as a Lecturer in Chemistry at Government Junior College, Parawada. The allegation against the petitioner is that he misbehaved with one of his female pupils. A case in Crime No.223 of 2025 was registered for the alleged offence punishable under Sec. 75(2) of 'the BNS '. So far, seven witnesses have been examined, all of whom are material and official witnesses. Substantial portion of the investigation has been completed. The petitioner was arrested on 29/8/2025 and has been in judicial custody for the past 70 days. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that a similar case has been reported against the petitioner vie Crime No.220 of 2025, under the provisions of Sec. 12 of 'the POCSO Act ' and Sec. 75(2) of 'the BNS '. However, when the petitioner was produced before the learned Judicial Magistrate concerned, his remand was not accepted, and the investigating officer complied with Sec. 35(3) of 'the BNSS '.