Telangana High Court orders magistrate to record woman’s statement in habeas corpus case

Hyderabad: The Telangana high court has directed that a software professional’s statement be recorded before a magistrate under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, in connection with a habeas corpus petition filed by a businessman from Suryapet. The petitioner claimed the woman is his wife and is being unlawfully confined by her family.

The 30-year-old petitioner alleged that he and the woman had married and were living together in Hayathnagar, until she was allegedly taken away by her family members with the help of the police. He submitted photographs purportedly showing their wedding as evidence of their marital relationship.

In response, the state counsel submitted a statement from the 26-year-old woman, previously recorded by a woman police officer, in which she categorically denied having married the petitioner or intending to marry him. She further revealed that her engagement to another man, scheduled for marriage on May 11, 2025, had been called off after the petitioner allegedly threatened her fiance and circulated her personal photographs in her village.

The state counsel also informed the court that the woman had severed ties with the petitioner nearly three years ago due to his alleged involvement in several criminal cases related to job fraud. The harassment resumed recently, the court was told, after her fresh marriage was arranged.

A bench comprising Justices Pulla Karthik and Narsing Rao Nandikonda asked the petitioner for additional proof of the alleged marriage beyond the submitted photographs. When confronted with the woman’s statement denying any marital relationship, the bench asked, “What more do you want?”

The petitioner argued that the woman had not left him of her own volition and alleged that her earlier statement was coerced by the police. He urged the court to direct the authorities to produce her in person.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered that the woman’s statement be freshly recorded before a judicial magistrate to ensure procedural fairness. The case was adjourned to a later date for further proceedings.