Telangana HC Grants Pre-Arrest Bail to Driver Accused in Fraudulent GST E-Way Bill Generation Case [Read Order]

The Telangana High Court recently granted pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail to a driver who was accused in a case arising from allegations of fraudulent generation of e-way bills during the transport of goods.

The case made out by the prosecution states that while the de-facto complainant was on Vehicle Transit Check (VTC) duty from 7 July 2025 (5.00 PM) to 8 July 2025 (6.00 AM), he observed Vehicle No. AP 29 TA 7213 lying in a breakdown condition at Falaknuma, Hyderabad. Despite the transport vehicle being immobilised, it was noted that e-way bills were allegedly generated fraudulently by the concerned GST taxpayers in the vehicle’s registration number to show non-existent movement of goods.

The complainant later approached the police leading to the registration of the FIR and the present proceedings.

Mirza Safiulla Baig appearing for the petitioner submitted that other accused in the same case had already been released on anticipatory bail after paying the prescribed fine and that the petitioner was unaware of the alleged fraudulent transactions, urging for grant of pre-arrest bail.

Additional Public Prosecutor, Arun Kumar Doddla opposed the plea, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations leveled against the petitioner and the petitioner’s alleged association with other accused and that the investigation had not yet been completed.

The single-judge bench of Justice K. Sujana noted that the present matter involved Sections 318(4), 336, 338 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and that the other accused had obtained anticipatory relief after payment of fines.

Noting that the petitioner herein was recorded as the driver of the subject-matter vehicle, Justice Sujana found it fit to grant anticipatory bail, however subject to conditions.

The petitioner was directed to surrender before the Station House Officer, INSP ADMIN (DD) Police Station, within two weeks, to be released on bail on executing a personal bond of ₹25,000 with two sureties of like amount, to comply with the conditions in Section 482(2) of the BNS Act, 2023, cooperate with the investigating officer (IO) and appear before the IO every Monday between 09:00 and 17:00 until filing of the charge sheet.

Accordingly, the petition was allowed and pending miscellaneous applications were closed.

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