APHC010484062026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 22nd DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 8172/2026 Between: VASUPALLI JEETHESH, , S/O GANGULU,AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, CASTE VADABALIJA,R/O NERELLAVALASA VILLAGE, BHEEMILI MANDAL,VISAKHAPATNAM CITY, ANDHRA PRADESH.NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY AT CENTRAL PRISON, VISAKHAPATNAM ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, ,Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court Buildings, Amaravathi. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: LEELA HARIPRASADKANDREGULA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8172 of 2026 Dated 22.09.2026. The Court made the following: ORDER: This 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.2 on bail in Crime No.183 of 2026 of Bheemunipatnam Police Station, Visakhapatnam District, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(B) read with 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Mr. K.Leela Hari Prasad, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and 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 continued incarceration would cause undue hardship to his dependents. The substantial part of the investigation has already been completed. The petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, it is urged that the petition be allowed. 3. Per contra, Mr. A. Sai Rohith, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner, submitting that the investigation is still in progress 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 likelihood of his absconding, thereby hampering the ongoing 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8172 of 2026 Dated 22.09.2026. investigation and evading the process of law. Hence, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor urged that the petitions be dismissed. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. On perusal of the record, the petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.2 in this case. The prosecution alleges that the petitioner was involved in the commission of an offence relating to 3.00 kgs of ganja. The seized ganja is not a commercial quantity. The petitioner was arrested on 04.06.2026 and has been in judicial custody for the past 110 days. No adverse antecedents have been reported against the petitioner. The petitioner is a permanent resident of Visakhapatnam District and has a fixed abode. 6. This Court, in Crl.P.No.7299 of 2026, vide order dated 31.08.2026, enlarged Accused No.1 on bail subject to certain stringent conditions. The present petitioner is also standing on the same footing as Accused No.1. If the petitioner is enlarged on bail subject to stringent conditions, there is no likelihood of his interfering with the investigation, threatening the witnesses, or tampering with the prosecution evidence. 7. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.2, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.2 on bail with some stringent conditions. 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8172 of 2026 Dated 22.09.2026. 8. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused No.2 shall be enlarged on bail subject to executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned XV Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Bheemunipatnam. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.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 Petitioner/Accused No.2 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence while on bail. iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.2 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. v. The Petitioner/Accused No.2 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8172 of 2026 Dated 22.09.2026. to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court. vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.2 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the investigating officer. If he claims that he does not have passport, he shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the Investigating Officer. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date:22.09.2026 Note: Issue C.C.by today B/o RSI 6 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.8172 of 2026 Dated 22.09.2026. THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 8172 of 2026 Date:22.09.2026 RSI