APHC010380592025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] FRIDAY,THE FIRST DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7795/2025 Between: 1. N GIRI, S/O NANDHI, AGED 22 YEARS, D.NO.2/283, EAST VATTAM, POONGULAM VILLAGE, VANIYAMBADI VTC POONGULAM, POONGULAM POST, VANIYAMBADI SUB-DISTRICT, VELLORE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU STATE. 2. RAMAR, S/O LAKSHMANAN, AGED 35 YEARS, D.NO.27, KEEL STREET VILLAGE, SIRIKALUR, SEERAPATTU, VILLUPURAM, SANKARAPUM TALUK, TAMIL NADU STATE. 3. MANIKANDAN, S/O SELVARAJ, AGED 32 YEARS, D.NO.19, MEL STREET, VENGALUR, GUNDARAM, COOL KILAKKADUPOST, VILLUPURAM DISTRICT. TAMIL NADU STATE. 4. ARIVALAKAN, S/O PONNUSWAMY, AGED 33 YEARS, D.NO.42. MEL STREET, VENGALUR. GUNDARAM, KILAKKADU, VILLUPURAM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU STATE. 5. SENNAKRISHNAN, S/O THANGAMANI, AGED 46 YEARS, D.NO.18, METTLE STREET, VENKALUR, KILKKADU, VILLUPURAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU. 6. SANKAR, C/O SUBRAMANI, AGED 46 YEARS. KEEL STREET VILLAGE, SIRIKALUR, SEERAPATTU, VILLUPURAM, SANKARAPUM TALUK, TAMIL NADU STATE. 7. CHENNAPPAN PICHAN, S/O PICHAN, AGED 46 YEARS, THAZH STREET, VENGALUR. KILAKKADU POST. SANKARAPUM TALUK, 2 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7795 of 2025 Dated 01.08.2025 VILLUPURAM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU STATE. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, at Amaravati through Station House Officer, Sanipaya Police station, Tirupati, Chittoor District. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): SRINIVASU L Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 3 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7795 of 2025 Dated 01.08.2025 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 7 for granting of bail in connection with O.R.No.61 of 2025-26 of FRO, Sanipaya Range, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Section 20(1)(c)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) & (x) r/w 20(1)(d)(i), 62 of AP Forest (Amendment) Act, 2016, Rule 3 of AP Sandal Wood and Red Sanders Wood Transit Rules, 1969, Section 303(2) r/w 3(5), 49, 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. The case of the prosecution is that on 16.06.2025 at about 2:00 p.m., based on credible information regarding illegal felling and transport of Red Sanders from Chemurudona locality in Compartment No. 858 of Veeraballi Beat, Sanipaya Range, Forest Officials conducted a raid. At around 3:30 p.m., Accused Nos.1 to 7 were apprehended while cutting and preparing Red Sanders logs. Upon search, 6 Red Sanders logs weighing 73 Kgs (worth ₹72,561/-), 4 axes, 1 saw, a spring weighing machine, 7 mobile phones, and a Maruti Suzuki SX4 (Reg. No. KA20Z5393) were seized. The accused failed to produce any valid transit permit and confessed to the offence. As no villagers were 4 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7795 of 2025 Dated 01.08.2025 available to witness the proceedings due to the remote forest location, a Special Proceedings report was drawn in the presence of the accused and officials. The case was registered as OR No. 61/2025-26, dated 16.06.2025, in the records of Sanipaya Forest Range. 3. Heard Sri L.Srinivasulu, learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 4. The petitioners were arrested on 16.06.2025. Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 is the driver of the vehicle, Petitioner Nos.2 to 7/Accused Nos.2 to 7 are the coolies who were engaged for getting Red Sanders logs. The allegation against the petitioners is that they had trespassed into the reserve forest and illegally cut down 7 logs weighing about 73 kgs. Four axes, one saw, and one spring weighing machine were also recovered from the possession of the petitioners. 5. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that the offence is punishable with imprisonment up to ten years. The investigation is not yet completed, and the main organizer of the crime is yet to be ascertained. 6. Considering the above facts and circumstances of the case, granting of bail to the petitioners at this juncture is found not convincing. 5 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7795 of 2025 Dated 01.08.2025 7. Hence, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. ________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 01.08.2025 JLV 6 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.7795 of 2025 Dated 01.08.2025 211 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.7795 of 2025 Date:01.08.2025 JLV