APHC010492742025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY,THE TWENTY EIGHTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 9702/2025 Between: KARANAM SAI KUMAR, S/O. KARANAM RAJU, AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, R/O. H.NO.1, GOLLALAPALEM VILLAGE, MARUPAKA, RAVIKAMATHAM MANDAL, ANAKAPALLI DISTRICT, A.P. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: GOLLAPALLI MAHESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.9702 of 2025 Dated 28.10.2025 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 437 and 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for brevity ‘the Cr.P.C.’)/ Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail in Crime.No.33 of 2024 of Pedabayalu Police Station, ASR District, registered against the petitioner/Accused No.1 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 read with 8 (c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. The case of the prosecution is that on 12.07.2024, on receipt of credible information regarding illegal possession and transportation of ganja, the Sub-Inspector of Police, Pedabayalu Police Station, along with his staff and mediators, rushed to Kothaputtu Junction, Adugulaputtu Panchayat, and conducted vehicle checking. During the operation, the police noticed a motorcycle and an auto coming from the Kujabandi side towards Kothaputtu Junction, and on seeing the police, the persons in the vehicles tried to escape. The police apprehended four accused. During the investigation, Accused Nos.3 to 5 disclosed their 3 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.9702 of 2025 Dated 28.10.2025 address particulars, and based on their confessional statements, the police seized 350 kgs of ganja under the cover of a mediators’ report. 3. Sri G.Maheswara Rao, the learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and he has been falsely implicated by the police. It is further submitted that the petitioner himself surrendered before the learned Trial Court on 21.07.2025. The petitioner is a permanent resident of Gollalapalem Village, Marupaka, Ravikamatham Mandal, Anakapalli Distict. He has got fixed abode and he may not evade the process of law. Nothing was seized from his possession and urged to enlarge the petitioner on bail. 4. Per contra, Ms.P.Akhila Naidu, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed to grant bail to the petitioner, submitting that the petitioner is involved in commercial quantity of ganja. He is ultimate receiver. The investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the petitioner is released on bail at this stage, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. In view of the foregoing submissions, it is urged that the petition be dismissed. 4 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.9702 of 2025 Dated 28.10.2025 5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 6. As seen from the record, the petitioner/Accused No.1 was indulged in dealing with 350 kgs of ganja with the aid of other accused. The prosecution alleges that the petitioner is the ultimate receiver of the seized contraband. Of course, the petitioner himself surrendered before the learned Trial Court on 21.07.2025. So far, only five witnesses have been examined, and the charge sheet has not yet been filed in this case. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that the investigation is at nascent stage. Enlarging the petitioner on bail is not found convincing or reasonable, inasmuch as the petitioner is alleged to have indulged in dealing with a colossal quantity of ganja. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and the gravity and nature of the allegations levelled against the petitioner/Accused No.1, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail at this juncture. Hence, the Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed. 8. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. 5 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.9702 of 2025 Dated 28.10.2025 As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 28.10.2025 RSI 6 Dr. YLR, J Crl.P.No.9702 of 2025 Dated 28.10.2025 65 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.9702 of 2025 Date: 28.10.2025 RSI