Mr.Neeraj Bansal, v. STATE OF TELANGANA

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Ishika Singh, aged about 26 years, working in marketing consultancy, came to Hyderabad for her education. During that period, she became acquainted with the petitioner, through social media, and they were in a live-in relationship for about five years. Thereafter, with the consent of both families, their marriage was solemnized on 10.02.2026 and at the time of marriage, on petitioner's demand, they gave eight tulas of gold, two diamond rings, a watch and cash of Rs.4,00,000/-, in total about Rs.15,00,000/- as dowry. It is further alleged that, after the marriage, the petitioner demanded additional dowry in the form of a branded gold watch worth Rs.1,50,000/-, a diamond ring, other ornaments, Rs.5,00,000/- cash and investment in his company. As the complainant expressed inability to pay immediately, the petitioner allegedly began harassing Ishika mentally and physically and she informed these incidents to her cousin Anushka and her uncle Veer Savarkar, who in turn informed the complainant and other family members. On 01.04.2026 at about 1:30 a.m., Ishika called Anushka and stated that she had quarreled with her husband and was coming home. Thereafter, she did not respond to subsequent calls. Later, at about 3:30 a.m., the complainant's sister informed the family that Ishika had died and that the petitioner had stated she hanged herself from the ceiling fan using a

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chunni. Suspecting that the continuous harassment for additional dowry drove his daughter to commit suicide, the complainant lodged the present complaint, on the basis of which a case was registered against the petitioner.

3. Heard Sri Naraparaju Avaneesh, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated with mala fide intention and that the allegations do not attract the ingredients of Sections 80 and 85 of BNS or Sections 3 and 4 of the D.P.Act. It is submitted that the petitioner and the deceased, Ishika Singh, were in a live-in relationship for about five years and married on 10.02.2026 with the consent of both families. The petitioner is stated to be financially well settled and running a software company in Hyderabad under the name "Bespoke AI Stylist,"

and therefore had no reason to demand dowry; rather, he had also shared the marriage expenses as the deceased came from a modest financial background. It is further contended that the deceased had informed the petitioner that the de facto complainant frequently harassed her for money, and that she

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had transferred Rs.20,000/- to him on 31.03.2026 at his request. According to the petitioner, he neither harassed nor abetted the deceased to commit suicide, directly or indirectly, and the complaint has been lodged only to falsely implicate him. It is also submitted that substantial investigation has already been completed except filing of the charge sheet, and therefore his further custodial detention is unnecessary. The petitioner was arrested on 02.04.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. The learned counsel further submits that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents and he is ready to cooperate with the investigation and shall abide by any conditions imposed by this Court. Hence, prayed this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail by allowing this criminal petition.

5. On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed bail contending that this is a dowry death. The victim died within two months of her marriage. The petitioner hails from Madhya Pradesh and if he is released on bail it may become difficult to secure him. Further investigation is at initial stage. Hence, petitioner is not entitled to bail and prayed to dismiss this petition.

6. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor,

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it is noted that the petitioner is the husband of the deceased. Their marriage was solemnized on 10.02.2026, and the incident occurred on 01.04.2026, i.e., within less than two months of the marriage, during which period the deceased died under suspicious circumstances. Though the learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the petitioner is innocent of the allegations and that certain amounts were transferred to the de facto complainant at the request of the deceased, having regard to the gravity of the allegations and the fact that the deceased allegedly committed suicide within a short period of marriage, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage. As such, the same is liable to be dismissed.

7. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed.

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K. SUJANA, J

Date :04.05.2026 Rds