APHC010198902026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY,THE TWENTY THIRD DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION Between: 1. MANOJ KUMAR, S/O.INDRAMITH,AGE 29 YEARS, PATHI, MAIN ROAD, JINDPUR GHAN,NEAR ALIPUR, MOKAMALKAPOOR ROAD, DELHI - 110 031. 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravathi Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High CourtPleased to enlar No. 1, on bail in NDPS SC NO. 4 of 2019 on the file of the Additional Sessions Judge East Godavari District arising out of Crime No. 15 of 2018, On the file of Dutcherthi Police Station, and Pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accu 1. KADIYAM NEELAKANTESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY,THE TWENTY THIRD DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2986/2026 MANOJ KUMAR, S/O.INDRAMITH,AGE 29 YEARS, PATHI, MAIN ROAD, JINDPUR GHAN,NEAR ALIPUR, MOKAMALKAPOOR ROAD, ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravathi ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High CourtPleased to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No. 1, on bail in NDPS SC NO. 4 of 2019 on the file of the Additional Sessions Judge East Godavari District arising out of Crime No. 15 of 2018, On the file of Dutcherthi Police Station, and Pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: KADIYAM NEELAKANTESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3396] THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA MANOJ KUMAR, S/O.INDRAMITH,AGE 29 YEARS, PATHI, MAIN ROAD, JINDPUR GHAN,NEAR ALIPUR, MOKAMALKAPOOR ROAD, ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of ge the petitioner/Accused No. 1, on bail in NDPS SC NO. 4 of 2019 on the file of the Additional Sessions Judge East Godavari District arising out of Crime No. 15 of 2018, On 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2986/2026 ORDER: This Criminal Petition, filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), is preferred by the petitioner/Accused No.1 seeking grant of regular bail in NDPS S.C.No. 4 of 2019 on the file of the learned I Additional Sessions Judge, East Godavari District, arising out of Crime No. 15 of 2018 of Dutcherthi Police Station. 2. Heard Sri Kadiyam Neelakanteswara Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor for the State. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was initially released on bail; however, he failed to appear before the Court on 15.11.2024, for which a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was issued. Upon execution of the NBW, the petitioner was produced before the Court on 31.10.2025, and since then, he has been in judicial custody. He would further submit that his absence was not willful, and he is willing to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court for grant of bail. 4. Per contra, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the petition, contending that the case pertains to the year 2018 and that appropriate directions may be issued to the trial Court for expeditious disposal of the case. 3 5. Having considered the submissions made on either side, this Court is of the opinion that, as rightly contended by the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, there is a likelihood of difficulty in securing the presence of the petitioner before the Court if he is released on bail. However, it is also noted that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 31.10.2025. 6. In view of the above circumstances, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, and accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. However, the learned trial Judge is directed to dispose of the matter as expeditiously as possible, without granting unnecessary adjournments on mere asking. If necessary, the case may be split up against the accused who are absconding, and the trial may proceed against the present petitioner. The learned trial Judge shall also submit a report on the progress of the case to the Registrar (Judicial) on or before 01.06.2026. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date 23.04.2026 KKV 4 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA 25 CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2986/2026 23.04.2026 KKV