APHC010043732026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY,THE NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: Between: 1. T MANIKANTA, S/O. T.NAGARAJU, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, OCC R/AT. D-NO. 4-17, CHETAPENTA VILLAGE, PALAMANER MANDAL, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravathi. 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 CourtPleased to grant petitioner/Accused No. 1 in connection with Crime in OR.No.41 of 2025 Forest Range Officer, Palamaner, Chittoor District, directing the respondent police to enlarge the petitioners/Accused No. 1 on bail in the event of hi arrest in connection with the said case and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. S PARINEETA 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY,THE NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 641/2026 T MANIKANTA, S/O. T.NAGARAJU, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, OCC 17, CHETAPENTA VILLAGE, PALAMANER MANDAL, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravathi. ...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 CourtPleased to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner/Accused No. 1 in connection with Crime in OR.No.41 of 2025 Forest Range Officer, Palamaner, Chittoor District, directing the respondent police to enlarge the petitioners/Accused No. 1 on bail in the event of hi arrest in connection with the said case and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3396] THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA T MANIKANTA, S/O. T.NAGARAJU, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, OCC 17, CHETAPENTA VILLAGE, PALAMANER MANDAL, ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor ...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 anticipatory bail to the petitioner/Accused No. 1 in connection with Crime in OR.No.41 of 2025-26 of Forest Range Officer, Palamaner, Chittoor District, directing the respondent police to enlarge the petitioners/Accused No. 1 on bail in the event of his 2 Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: 3 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 641/2026 ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the Petitioner/Accused No.1 for granting of pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime in OR.No.41 of 2025-26 of Forest Range Officer, Palamaner, Chittoor District, registered for the alleged offence punishable under Sections 20(1)(c)(ii)(iv)(vi)(x) read with 20(1)(d)(i), 62 of Andhra Pradesh Forest (Amendment) Act, 2016, Rule 3 of AP Sandal Wood and Red Sanders Wood Transit Rules, 1969, Section 303(2) read with 3(5), 49, 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘the BNS’). 2. Heard Ms.S.Parineetha, learned counsel for the petitioner/A.1 and Mr.K.Sandeep, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3. This is the 2nd bail application of petitioner No.1/accused No.1. Earlier this Court dismissed the bail applications filed by the petitioner/accused No.1 vide Crl.P.No.13204 of 2025, dated 30.12.2025. 4. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State would submit that there is no change of circumstances from the date of dismissal of the bail application of the petitioner vide Crl.P.No.13204 of 2025, dated 30.12.2025. She would further submit that the charge sheet is also filed by the investigating agency within the statutory period. The red sanders involved in 4 the present case is two logs weighing 61 kgs, having a total value of Rs.1,55,481/-. She finally submits that the petition is liable to be dismissed. 5. Considering the nature and gravity of allegations 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 previous bail application of the petitioner vide Crl.P.No.13204 of 2025, dated 30.12.2025, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/A.1 on bail at the present time. 6. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. However, the petitioner/accused No.1 is at liberty to surrender before the concerned Court within a period of one (01) week from the date of receipt of copy of this order, and move an appropriate application before the Court concerned. The learned Jurisdictional Court is directed to dispose of the said application in accordance with law, on its own merits by giving due and sufficient opportunity to the learned Public Prosecutor concerned, and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. ___________________________________ DR.VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA, J Date: 09.02.2026. KKV