Telangana High Court
Panuganti David vs The State Of Telangana on 15 July, 2025
Author: N.Tukaramji
Bench: N.Tukaramji
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.TUKARAMJI
CRIMINAL PETITION No.8740 OF 2025
ORDER
This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short 'the CrPC') seeking quashment of F.I.R. No.512 of 2025 of Bachupally Police Station, Cyberabad Commissionarate.
2. I have heard Mr. Duddu Nava Kiran, learned counsel for the petitioners/accused Nos.8 to 10 and Mr.Jithender Rao Veeramalla, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, representing the respondent No.1-State.
3. The case of the prosecution, in brief is that, Respondent No.2/ de facto complainant, lodged a police report alleging that in 2023, her elder daughter was subjected to sexual abuse by the son of their landlord. This incident was registered as Crime No. 229 of 2023 under Sections 376-D (gang rape), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), along with relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act), and the Scheduled Castes and 2 NTR,J Crlp_8740_2025 Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SCs/STs (POA) Act).
Subsequently, it was alleged that the accused threatened the victim, leading to the registration of a second First Information Report (FIR No. 86 of 2024).
Amidst these developments, Respondent No.2 discovered that her husband, her aunt, her cousin, and certain pastors associated with Rock Church, Bachupally, had been clandestinely drugging her and recording explicit videos without her consent. It was alleged that these acts formed part of an international pornography racket. She further contended that to subdue her awareness and resistance, the accused administered sedatives in overdose and even filmed videos involving acts mimicking necrophilia ('dead body sex'). According to her, the pastors further manipulated her psychological state, isolated her from external support, and conspired to portray her as mentally unfit.
Additionally, she alleged that she was subjected to physical torture, including beatings, starvation, and verbal abuse. Her minor children were allegedly coerced and physically assaulted to force them into declaring her mentally unstable. Her elder daughter was reportedly sexually exploited by the complainant's husband and his 3 NTR,J Crlp_8740_2025 accomplices, with the aim of generating substantial illicit income from such criminal acts.
Despite her attempts to seek redress, including filing a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission, the complainant was allegedly pressured and intimidated by the accused into withdrawing her case. Thus, citing instances of sexual exploitation within marriage, child abuse, non-consensual pornography, physical torture, and caste-based discrimination, Respondent No.2 filed the present police report.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that the allegations levelled against his clients are wholly baseless and devoid of merit. He submits that the petitioners are pastors affiliated with the Church and have no involvement whatsoever in the commission of the alleged offences. It is further submitted that a plain reading of the police report does not disclose any prima facie case against the petitioners warranting their prosecution. Counsel emphasizes that the de facto complainant is purportedly a person suffering from mental instability, and the allegations made therein are speculative, exaggerated, and the product of delusion. He asserts that the contents of the police report, even if taken at face value and accepted in their entirety, do not constitute the ingredients 4 NTR,J Crlp_8740_2025 of any cognizable offence against the petitioners. Therefore, the continuation of criminal proceedings against them would amount to an abuse of the process of law. Thus prayed for quashing of the proceedings initiated against the petitioners.
5. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor submits that the allegations made in the police report are of a grave and serious nature. The involvement of the petitioners, along with that of other accused persons, is specifically detailed in the report. It is contended that the true facts surrounding the alleged offences can only be ascertained upon completion of a full and fair investigation. Prematurely drawing any conclusions at this stage would be prejudicial to the interests of Respondent No.2, the de facto complainant. It is further submitted that the ongoing investigation has already brought to light the specific roles played by the petitioners in the commission of the alleged offences. A comprehensive and thorough investigation is essential to unearth the complete facts. Therefore prayed for dismissal of the petition.
6. I have perused the materials on record.
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7. Upon perusal of the record, it is evident that the police report details specific acts allegedly committed by the accused. The prosecution's version discloses the petitioners' purported role in luring the de facto complainant and her family to their Church. It is alleged that the petitioners, abusing their religious influence, labeled the complainant as 'mentally ill' in order to isolate her socially and psychologically, thereby preventing others from assisting or believing her. Furthermore, the petitioners are alleged to have manipulated members of the Church into believing that the complainant was mentally unstable. It is also claimed that they supported, facilitated, or were complicit in the filming and distribution of non-consensual pornographic material. These allegations are serious in nature, and the investigation is stated to be ongoing, particularly for the purpose of collecting corroborative evidentiary materials.
8. In view of the nature of the allegations and the submissions advanced by the prosecution, this Court is of the opinion that a prima facie case is made out warranting further investigation against the petitioners. At this preliminary stage, any attempt to draw definitive conclusions would be both premature and legally 6 NTR,J Crlp_8740_2025 untenable. Accordingly, the petition, being devoid of merit, is liable to be dismissed.
9. In the result, the criminal petition is dismissed.
Miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, shall stand closed.
_______________ N.TUKARAMJI,J Date:15-07-2025 ccm