HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has refused to restore bail to a man accused of threatening to circulate a woman’s private photographs and videos on social media, observing that an accused who misuses the liberty granted by a court by intimidating the victim cannot claim the protection of bail.
Justice J. Sreenivas Rao dismissed a criminal petition filed by Rahul challenging an order of the VI Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ranga Reddy district, at Kukatpally, cancelling his bail.
The High Court held that the allegations of threatening, assaulting and intimidating the victim after his release on bail prima facie established a violation of the conditions imposed by the trial court.
Rahul was arrested in January 2026 in a case registered by Miyapur police on charges relating to sexual intercourse by deceitful means, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation. He was granted bail on February 23, subject to conditions that included not threatening or inducing witnesses and cooperating with the investigation.
The woman subsequently sought cancellation of his bail, alleging that Rahul had contacted her on May 7 and threatened to circulate her private photographs and videos on social media.
She further alleged that Rahul and his brothers intercepted her near the RNTS building at Erramanzil on May 14, abused and assaulted her, pressed her neck and kicked her.
Following her complaint, Panjagutta police registered another case against Rahul and his brothers. On October 7, the trial court cancelled his bail, holding that he had misused the liberty granted to him.
Challenging the order, Rahul contended that the subsequent complaint was false and motivated. His counsel argued that there was a delay of nearly 13 days in lodging the complaint and that the woman had not produced CCTV footage, call records or other independent evidence to substantiate her allegations.
He also cited inconsistencies between the complaint and the affidavit filed in support of the petition seeking cancellation of bail.
Rejecting these contentions, the High Court noted that the woman had claimed to have approached Khairatabad police on the day of the alleged assault and had undergone treatment at Gandhi Hospital.
The court observed that the police acknowledgement and medical records placed before it indicated that she had approached the police on May 14 and received treatment on May 15.
Justice Sreenivas Rao clarified that questions concerning the alleged delay in registering the subsequent FIR and the genuineness of the documents would be examined during the investigation.
The court emphasised that the mere registration of a subsequent criminal case against an accused was not sufficient to warrant cancellation of bail.
However, cogent and overwhelming circumstances, including misuse of liberty, intimidation of witnesses, interference with the investigation or involvement in similar criminal activities, could justify cancellation of bail, it observed.
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