APHC010061842026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] MONDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 939/2026 Between: B.PADMANABHAN ALIAS PADMANABHA REDDY, S/O VENKATAPATHI, AGED 47 YEARS D.NO.1-303, CHENNAI KOAD0PP.MUNICIPAL OFFICE, SRIKALAHASTI TIRUPATI DISTRICT-517 644 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF A.P., AMARAVATI.THROUGH STATION HOUSE OFFICER,SRIKALAHASTI I TOWN P.S.,TIRUPATI DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. MADHU SUDHAN P Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: ORDER: The instant petition under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed seeking to grant anticipatory bail to the Petitioner / Accused, in connection with Crime No.188 of 2025 on the file of Srikalahasthi I Town Police Station, Tirupati, which is registered for the offence under Sections 34(A) of A.P.Excise Act and 9(1) of A.P.Gaming Act. 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the case was registered suo moto by the Probationary Sub-Inspector of Police, Srikalahasthi I Town Police Station stating that on30.10.2025 at about 7.30 pm at B.P.Agraharam Circile, Srikalahasthi Town, the Police allegedly found Accused No.2 in possession of 16 Kingfisher strong beer bottles and that in the remand report of Accused No.1, he stated the name of the Petitioner herein. It is further alleged that the 2 Petitioner is a Matka Beater and that the Petitioner was selling liquor to the public at higher prices after official closure of wine shops. 3. Heard Sri P.Madhu Sudhan, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Sri K.Sandeep, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor for State/Respondent. 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that the Petitioner is falsely implicated in the present case only based on the confessional statement of Accused No.2. Learned counsel would further submit that the Petitioner has not committed any offence as alleged. It is submitted that the Petitioner is ready to furnish sureties to the satisfaction of the Court. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that there are specific allegations against the Petitioner and the investigation is in progress. At this stage, the Petitioner cannot be granted anticipatory bail. 6. Considering the submissions made and on perusal of the material placed on record, this Court is of the view that there are prima facie allegations against the Petitioner in the commission of the alleged offences. The contention that the case rests solely on the confessional statement of Accused No.2 cannot be accepted at this stage, particularly when the investigation is in progress. In such circumstances, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the Petitioner, at this stage. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. ________________________________________ Dr.JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date:16.02.2026 Dinesh 3 THE HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION No.939 of 2026 DATE:16.02.2026 Dinesh