APHC010221032026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] TUESDAY, THE TWENTY EIGHTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 3371/2026 Between: 1. SONTENA ANANDA PREM KUMAR, S/O L PUNYARAO,AGED 30 YEARS,OCC HALTING DRIVER, R/O. HUKUMPETA V MASR DISTRICT R/O. SUJATHA NAGAR,CHINAMUSHIDIWADA, PENDURTHY,VISAKHAPATNAM. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,THROUGH THE SHO, G.MADUGULA PS,ALLURI SEETHARAMA RAJU DISTRICT,HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMRAVATI ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Court pleased to release the Petitioner/A-2 on bail in FIR No.49 of 2025 of G. Madugula Police Station, A.S.R. District on 05-12- 2025 on the terms and conditions Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. AMARENDRA JILLELLA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 3371/2026 ORDER: This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the BNSS, has been filed by the Petitioner herein/Accused No.2, seeking regular bail, in Crime No.49/2025 of G.Madugula Police Station, Alluri Sitha Rama Raju District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 read with 8(c) of the NDPS Act. 2. This is the 2nd bail application. Earlier this Court dismissed the bail application filed by the petitioner vide order dated 19.02.2026 in Crl.P.No.1064of 2026. 3. Heard Sri Amarendra Jillella, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Mrs.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State. 4. Learned Counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner/Accused No. 2 is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the alleged offence. The petitioner is a part-time driver, working merely as a halting driver on a daily wage basis. He had no knowledge whatsoever of the alleged contraband said to have been recovered. The Petitioner is the sole breadwinner of his family, and his entire family is dependent upon his earnings for their livelihood. He has no criminal antecedents. The Petitioner has been in judicial custody since 05.12.2025. Learned counsel finally submits that the 3 petitioner is ready and willing to furnish sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of the Court and to comply with any conditions imposed by this Court. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the petition and would submit that there is no change of circumstances from the date of dismissal of the earlier bail application filed by the petitioner. She would further submit that the statutory period is not yet completed. Investigation is still pending. The contraband involved in the present case is in large quantity i.e., 80 kgs, which is a commercial quantity. She finally submits that the petition is liable to be dismissed. 5. Considering the nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the petitioner, his alleged role played in this case and there is no change of circumstances from the date of dismissal of the earlier bail application in Crl.P.No.1064 of 2026 dated 19.02.2026, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the Petitioner on bail at this stage. 6. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 28.04.2026. UPS 4 39 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 3371/2026 Dt.28.04.2026 UPS