APHC010231912026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] TUESDAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 3640/2026 Between: 1. SAKETI RAM SONI KUMAR ALIAS SONI SLO RAMARAO, AGED 23 YEARS, R/O AMBEDKAR COLONY,CHEEPURUPALLI VILLAGE AND MANDAL. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF A.P., AMARAVATI. ...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 enlarge the petitioners/Accused Nos. 2 on bail in Crime No.5 of 2026 of Ramabhadrapuram Police Station, in the interest of justice. Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. SRIDEVI JAMPANI Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 3640 OF 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.5 of 2026 of Ramabhadrapuram Police Station, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 8(C) r/w 20(b)(ii)(B) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (for short “NDPS Act”). 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that, on 09.01.2026 at about 14 hours, the Sub-Inspector of Police, Ramabhadrapuram, on receipt of credible information, rushed to Kottakki Village Checkpost and while conducting vehicle checking, he noticed two motorcycles and on scooty and on seeing the police, they turned their vehicles and tried to escape. The police caught hold of them and seized 15.765 Kgs of ganja from their possession. 3. Heard Ms. Sridevi Jampani, learned counsel for the petitioner and Ms.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing on behalf of the State. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this crime and that he is in no way connected with the commission of the offence. The petitioner has been in judicial custody since 09.01.2026. The contraband involved in the present crime is 15.765 Kgs of Ganja, which is a non-commercial quantity. It is further submitted that the statutory period is over and no report has been filed by the prosecution before 3 the Special Court till this day. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing on behalf of the State vehemently opposed the petition and contended that the investigation has not yet completed and the contraband involved in the present case is 15.765 Kgs of Ganja. 6. Considering the submissions and upon keen perusal of the material placed on record and in the light of the facts and circumstances of the case, that the petitioners have been in judicial custody since 09.01.2026, the fact that the contraband involved in the present crime is only 15.765 Kgs of Ganja, that the statutory period is over and no report has been filed before the Special Court by the prosecution, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner/accused No.2 on bail with the following conditions; i. The petitioner/accused No.2 shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs. 20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Salur. ii. The petitioner/accused No.2 shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required and shall cooperate with further investigation, if any. 4 iii. The petitioner/accused No.2 shall not directly or indirectly tamper with evidence nor influence, intimidate, or induce any prosecution witness. iv. The petitioner/accused No.2 shall appear before the Station House Officer, concerned, once in a week i.e., on every Saturday between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. till further orders. v. The petitioner/accused No.2 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. vi. The petitioner/accused No.2 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the concerned Court. If he claims that he does not have a passport, he shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the concerned Court. 7. In the event of violation of any of the above conditions, the prosecution shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail. 8. It is also made clear that the observations made in this order are only for the purpose of deciding the bail application and they shall not be construed as opinion on the merits of the Crime. 9. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is allowed. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 05.05.2026. UPS 5 20 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 3640 OF 2026 Dt.05.05.2026 UPS