APHC010453302026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 8th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7544/2026 Between: 1. SUNNY ALIAS SUNNY, S/O. NARESH KUMAR, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS,R/O. MATA DARWAJA STREET, ROHTAK TOWN AND DISTRICT, HARYANA STATE. 2. RAMESH, S/O. MANGAL BALAB, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/O.ROHTAK DISTRICT, HARYANA STATE. 3. MALLIKARJUNUDU, S/O. M. RAMUDU, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, R/O.JOHARAPURAM VILLAGE AND MANDAL, KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRAPRADESH ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati, Representing the Station House Officer, RSSATF Police Station, Tirupati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): SRINIVASU L Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7544 of 2026 Dated 08.09.2026 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’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused Nos.1, 2 and 8 on bail in Crime No.15 of 2026 of RSASTF Police Station, Tirupathi District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused Nos.1, 2 and 8 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 303 (2) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNS’), 49, 61(2) of ‘the BNS’ and Section 20(1)(d) (i)(a) r/w 20(1) (c) II, iii, iv, x, 36(a) r/w 32A, 29(4)(a)(i) of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Amendment Act, 2016. 2. Mr. L. Srinivasu, learned counsel for the Petitioners, submits that the Petitioners are innocent of the alleged offence and have not committed any offence; that they have been falsely implicated in this case; that they are the sole breadwinners of their families; that they are ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court; and accordingly, urges this Court to enlarge the Petitioners on bail. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohith, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the Petitioners, submitting that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that, if the Petitioners are released on bail at this 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7544 of 2026 Dated 08.09.2026 stage, there is a strong likelihood of their absconding, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. Accordingly, he urged this Court to dismiss the Criminal Petition. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioners and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1, 2 and 8 are alleged to be the organisers involved in cutting red sanders trees in the reserve forest, converting them into red sanders logs and illegally smuggling them to the desired destinations. The allegation against Accused Nos.1 and 2 is that they sent money to Accused No.8 for procuring 78 red sanders logs, weighing about 1,934 KGs, the value of which in the open market is stated to be Rs.9,67,000/-. The investigation is at a progressive stage. So far, only seven witnesses have been examined and some more material witnesses are yet to be examined. The Petitioners have been in judicial custody for the past 45 days, pursuant to their arrest on 25.07.2026. Therefore, at this juncture, the request of the Petitioners for enlargement on bail is not found to be convincing or reasonable. 6. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence, and the stage of investigation, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1, 2 and 8 on bail at this 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7544 of 2026 Dated 08.09.2026 juncture. Accordingly, this Court finds no merit in the Criminal Petition, and the same is liable to be dismissed. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 08.09.2026 Pmk/VMM 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7544 of 2026 Dated 08.09.2026 154 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7544 of 2026 Date:08.09.2026 Pmk/VMM