APHC010481562026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE 21st DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 8117/2026 Between: LINGALADINNE BANGARU REDDY, S/O L. NARAYANA REDDY,AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, OCCICOOLIE,R/O. LINGALADINNE PALLE,BRAMHAGARIMATTAM MANDAL,YSR KADAPA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh,At Amaravati ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: SARMA C V S S Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8117 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 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 No.1 on bail in O.R.No.38 of 2026-27, Kadiri Range, Tirupati, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.1 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 303(2) read with 3(5), 49 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNS’), Section 36(a) read with 32A, 32B, 32C, 29(4)(a)(i) of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Act, 2016, and Rule 3 and 4 of the Andhra Pradesh Sandal Wood and Red Sander Wood Transit Rules, 1696, Rule 3 of the Andhra Pradhesh Wood and Red Sander Wood Possession Rules, 1989, and Section 3, 4, 6 of the Bio-Diversity Act, 2002. 2. Mr.Sarma C.V.S.S., the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits 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 is the sole earning member of the family and, therefore, his incarceration would cause undue hardship to his dependents. He is a law-abiding citizen. The petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. In light of the foregoing submissions, the learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohit, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner, submitting that the 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8117 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 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. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.1. He was arrested on 09.08.2026 and has been in judicial custody for the past 43 days. The petitioner is a coolie and is a permanent resident of YSR Kadapa District. He has a fixed abode. So far, four witnesses have been examined, and they are material witnesses. Substantial portion of the investigation with regard to the alleged role attributed to the petitioner has been completed. In such circumstances, the possibility of the petitioner threatening the witnesses, tampering with the evidence or hampering the further course of investigation may not arise. The allegation against the petitioner is that he was involved in dealing with four red sanders logs weighing about 97 Kgs., valued at approximately Rs.86,000/-. There are no adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioner/Accused No.1, the period of incarceration undergone by him and the stage of investigation, this 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8117 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail, subject to stringent conditions. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall be enlarged on bail subject to his executing bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Special Court for Judicial Magistrate of First Class Trial of Cases relating to Red Sanders Smuggling, Tirupati. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 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 Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned. iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not commit or indulge in the commission of any offence while on bail. v. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall cooperate with the investigating officer in further investigation of the case and shall make himself available for interrogation by the investigating officer as and when required. 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8117 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 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. vii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the Investigating Officer. If he claims that he does not have passport, he shall submit affidavits to that effect to the Investigating Officer. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 21.09.2026 RSI 6 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8117 of 2026 Dated 21.09.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 8117 of 2026 Date: 21.09.2026 RSI