APHC010115482026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] THURSDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1786/2026 Between: 1. MUKESH JAIN, S/O. NEMICHAND JAIN, AGED 59 YEARS, OCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, A.P. PAPER MILLS LTD., R/O. ANDHRA PAPER MILLS OFFICERS COLONY, SRIRAM NAGAR, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT - 533105 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, III TOWN POLICE STATION, RAJAHMUNDRY, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT, REP. BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, AMARAVATHI ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. VARREY VENKATA NAGA VISHNU TEJA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1786 of 2026 ORDER:- The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by the Petitioner/Accused No.1 for granting of pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime No.70 of 2026 on the file of Rajahmundry III Town Police Station, East Godavari District, registered for the alleged offence punishable under Section 316(5), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2)(a) read with 3(5) BNS, 2023. 2. Heard Sri P. Veera Reddy, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Ms. V.V.N.V. Teja, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Ms. K. Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing the respondent- State. 3. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that the investigation is at a nascent stage. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would further submit that neither the petitioner nor any other accused has withdrawn any amount, as the entire amount in the bank accounts has been freezed. It is further submitted that the Court may pass appropriate orders. 4. Learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner would submit that no offence is made out against the petitioner or any other accused and the question of misappropriation does not arise. Learned Senior Counsel would further submit that the petitioner is working as the Executive Director only for the welfare of 3 the employees who are working on permanent as well as contract basis. It is submitted that certain measures were proposed to ensure that the employees receive interest as per the applicable rules, which they could not obtain through SBI, since the interest rate offered by SBI is 7.1% per annum, whereas the employees are entitled to receive 8.15% per annum. In that process, correspondence took place on behalf of the company with the EPF Organization. Learned Senior Counsel finally prays that this Court may grant protection to the petitioner from any coercive steps by the police. 5. In the light of the facts and circumstances of the present case, since the investigation is at a nascent stage and considering the fact that the amount remains intact and no one has withdrawn even a single pie, this Criminal Petition is disposed of with the following; a. In the event of any coercive action sought to be taken against the Petitioner, concerned Police Authorities are directed to scrupulously follow the procedure prescribed under Section 35(3) of BNSS and the guidelines laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar1. b. The petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation and furnish information/any material documents whatever available/required to the investigating agency. 1 (2014) 8 SCC 273 4 As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. ___________________________________ DR.VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA, J Date:12.03.2026 KNN 5 80 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1786 of 2026 12.03.2026 KNN