Telangana High Court
Smt. G.Rathnamala vs The State Of Telangana on 1 April, 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
AT HYDERABAD
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE J.SREENIVAS RAO
CRIMINAL PETITION No.3600 of 2026
Date: 01.04.2026
Between:
Smt. G. Rathnamala
...Petitioner
AND
The State of Telangana,
Through S.H.O., Chandanagar Police Station,
Cyberabad Commissionerate, R.R.District,
Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,
High Court, Hyderabad.
...Respondent
ORDER
This Criminal Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the Station House Officer, Chandanagar Police Station, Cyberabad Commissionerate, Ranga Reddy District to release the vehicle, namely, Maruthi Swift Dzire Car, bearing registration No. TG-07-AE-8726, which was seized in Crime No.1373 of 2025.
2. Heard Mr. N. Ravi, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Jithendar Rao Veeramalla, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondent.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the husband of the petitioner was arrayed as accused No.2 in Crime 2 No.1373 of 2025 for the offences under Section 8(c) read with 22
(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short 'NDPS Act') and he is in judicial custody since 23.11.2025. The vehicle of accused No.2 was seized in the above said crime. The petitioner, who is the wife of accused No.2 filed the present petition, seeking interim custody of the vehicle namely, Maruthi Swift Dzire Car, bearing registration No. TG- 07-AE-8726 on the ground that it was seized on 22.11.2026 and the major portion of the investigation is completed. The petitioner and her family members are using the said vehicle for their personal purpose. Unless the subject vehicle is released, it will be damaged and subject vehicle is not involved in any other crime except the present crime and, therefore, requested this Court to release the subject vehicle.
4. The above said submissions have not been disputed by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor requested.
5. Taking into consideration the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to grant interim custody of the vehicle, namely, Maruthi Swift Dzire Car, bearing registration No. TG-07-AE-8726 to the petitioner on the condition that the petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties to the satisfaction of the S.H.O., Chandanagar Police Station, 3 Cyberabad. The petitioner shall also furnish an undertaking that the petitioner or any other family members shall not alienate the vehicle or change its physical features and the petitioner or accused No.2 or any other family members shall produce the vehicle before the Investigating Officer as and when required. The S.H.O., Chandanagar Police Station, Cyberabad shall write to the RTA Authority not to transfer the vehicle in favour of any third party without clearance from the Police Department. It is needless to state that release of the vehicle is subject to the orders that may be passed by the concerned officer pursuant to the enquiry to be conducted under the provisions of the NDPS Act.
6. Accordingly, the criminal petition is disposed of.
Pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall stand closed.
______________________________ JUSTICE J. SREENIVAS RAO 01.04.2026 Note:
Issue CC in three days B/o gnp