APHC010562372025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] FRIDAY,THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 10929/2025 Between: 1.SRI MURUGAN RAJU, S/O RAJU,AGEED ABOUT 33 YEARS, OCC DRIVER, R/O D.NO 1/983, THAZHIVEETHI,CHINNAKALRAYAN HILLS, VADAKKUNADU,KARUMANTHURAI, ATTUR TK,SALEM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU STATE-636138. 2.SRI MURUGAN, S/O KULLAN,AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, OCC COOLIE,R/O D.NO 1/1, NORTH STREET, THAIDEVANUR, VEZHAPPADIVAZHAPADI, VILLUPURAM CHINNASELAM DIST., TAMIL NADU STATE-606207. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND 1.THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep.by its Public Prosecutor,Through Forest Range Officer, SVNP Balapalli RangeAnnamayya District ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): 1.AYESHA AZMA S 2.AYESHA AZMAS Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1.PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: 2 ORDER: Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 on bail in O.R.No.72/2025 of SVNP Balapalli Range, Annamayya Division, registered against the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 29(2)(b), 20(i)(d), 32A read with 36 of the A.P. Forest Act, 1967 and Rule 3(1) & (2) of A.P. Sandal Wood & Red Sanders Wood Transit Rules, 1969 and Rule 3 of A.P. Red Sanders Wood Possession Rules, 1989; and Sections 303(2) read with 3(5), 49, 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, (for brevity ‘the BNS’). 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3. As seen from the record, the allegation against the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 is that they had acted as a driver and coolie respectively for transportation of 11 logs of Red Sander Woods weighing about 143 kgs. There are no criminal adverse similar antecedents reported against the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2. The main kingpin is Accused No.3. So far six witnesses are examined, and they are all official witnesses. The Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 may not cause to threaten the official witnesses or tamper the evidence or hamper the investigation. The petitioner/Accused No.1 is permanent resident of Karumanthurai, Attur (TK), 3 Salem District, and Petitioner/Accused No.2 is permanent resident of Vazhapadi, Villupuram Chinnasalem District. They have got fixed abode. No application has been filed seeking for custodial interrogation of the Petitioners. The Petitioners were arrested on 11.09.2025. They have been in the judicial custody for the past 50 days. 4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 on bail with the following stringent conditions: i. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall be enlarged on bail subject to they executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) each with two sureties each for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Special Cadre Junior Civil Judge for Trial of Cases relating to Red Sanders Smuggling, Tirupati. ii. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, on every Saturday in between 10:00 am and 05:00 pm, till filing of the charge sheet. iii. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall not leave the limits of the District without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned. iv. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. v. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court. 4 vi. The petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 shall cooperate with the investigating officer in further investigation of the case and shall make themselves available for interrogation by the investigating officer as and when required. 5. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 31.10.2025 VTS/PRA