APHC010453252026 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: 7542/2026 Between: REDDY VARI AMARNATH REDDY, S/O. RAMI REDDY,AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, OCC AGRICULTURIST,R/O. DOOR NO.2-119/4, NAGAYAPALEM, PUNGANUR ANNAMAIAH DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Station House Officer,Arundalpet Police Station,Guntur District,Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,A.P. High Court at Amaravathi. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: SANAGA ASHOK KUMAR Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the petitioner for granting of pre- arrest bail in connection with Crime No.359 of 2025 of Arundalpet Police Station, Guntur District, was registered for the alleged offence punishable under Sections 318(2), 316(5) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNS’). 2. Mr.Sanaga Ashok Kumar, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that though the petitioner has not been formally arrayed as an accused in the subject crime as on date, the petitioner has an apprehension that he may be implicated in the said crime and arrested by the police in connection therewith. It is submitted that the petitioner has approached this Court seeking protection of his personal liberty and that the absence of formal arraying of the petitioner as an accused, by itself, cannot defeat the 3 remedy available to him when there exists a reasonable apprehension of arrest. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohit, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that the petitioner has not been arraigned as an accused in the subject crime as on date. Therefore, the apprehension of arrest is premature and the Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner has not been arrayed as accused in any crime; therefore, the question of granting pre-arrest bail does not arise. Mere apprehension on the part of the petitioner that he may be implicated in the crime and arrested by the police, without there being any material to show that the petitioner is presently sought to be arrested in connection with the said crime, would not by itself entitle him to the relief of pre-arrest bail. Therefore, keeping the Criminal Petition pending would serve no useful purpose and the same is liable to be disposed of. 6. In the result, the Criminal Petition is disposed of, granting liberty to the petitioner to approach this Court for 4 appropriate relief in accordance with law, if he is subsequently arrayed as an accused in the subject crime. As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 08.09.2026 ANS 5 207 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7542 of 2026 Date: 08.09.2026 ANS