APHC010473592026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE 12th DAY OF OCTOBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7955/2026 Between: 1. SRUNGARAPU VENKATA NARENDRA, S/O LATE VENKATA RAO,AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS,JUNIOR ASSISTANT, WORKING AS E1 E2 CLERK,ENGINEERING SECTION, L/C REVENUE INSPECTOR FOR REVENUE WARDS 23 TO 28,O/O COMMISSIONER, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, ONGOLE,PRAKASAM DISTRICT-523001 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by the Deputy Superintendent of Police,ACB, Nellore Range, Nellore,FAC, DSP, Prakasam District,Ongole- 524003. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. A SYAM SUNDAR REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. S.SYAM SUNDER RAO SC cum Spl P.P. For ACB The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the BharatiyaNagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/AccusedOfficer on bail in Crime No.08/RCT-ACB- 2 OGL/2026 of 2026 of ACBPolice Station, Ongole, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. 2. Mr.A.Syam Sundar Reddy,the learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence. He has been falsely implicated in this case. The Petitioner is a law-abiding citizen. The Petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, it is urged to allow the Petition. 3. Per contra, Mr.S.Syam Sunder Rao, learned Special Public Prosecutor for ACBfiled a counter affidavit opposing the grant of bail and contended that the investigation is at a crucial stage and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the Petitioneris 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 and urged to dismiss the Petition. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitionerand the learned Special Public Prosecutor for ACB. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the Petitioner is working as a Junior Assistant in the Municipal Corporation, Ongole. On an earlier occasion, a case relating to disproportionate assets was registered against the Petitioner, and the same is pending in C.C. No.15 of 2026. In the present case, the voice samples of the Petitioner have been taken, and his statement under Section 164 of ‘the 3 Cr.P.C.’/Section 183 of ‘the BNSS’ was also recorded by the learned Court concerned. The Petitioner has been in judicial custody for the past 55 days, pursuant to his remand on 18.08.2026. 6. The Petitioner is a permanent resident of Prakasam District. He has got fixed abode. If the Petitioner is enlarged on bail subject to stringent conditions, there is no likelihood of his absconding, threatening the witnesses, tampering with the evidence or hampering the further course of investigation. 7. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioneron bail, subject to certain stringent conditions. 8. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused shall be enlarged on bail subject to his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- (Rupees Two Lakhs only)with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Special Judge for SPE & ACB Cases-cum-II Additional District & Sessions Judge, Nellore. ii. The Petitioner/Accused 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 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned. iv. The Petitioner/Accused shall not commit any offence similar to the one alleged herein while remaining on bail. 4 v. The Petitioner/Accused 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. vi. The Petitioner/Accused 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 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the Investigating Officer. If he claimsthat he does not have passport, he shall submit affidavit to that effect to the Investigating Officer. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 12.10.2026 PRA 5 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7955 of 2026 Date: 12.10.2026 PRA