APHC010119992026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1846/2026 Between: 1. SANDAKA RAMAKRISHNA ALIAS SAMPU, S/O RAMESH LATE, AGED 23 YEARS,D.NO.45-5-8, ANDHRA NAGAR, 1ST STREET, NEAR DMH SCHOOL, NOW AT OPPANAND REGENCY HOTEL, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. HIGH COURT ATAMARAVATHI, A.P. ...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 enlarged on bail to the petitioners/Accused-AI on Regular bail petition in the Hon’ble court of 1st Addl. District and session Judge Rajamahendravaram in SCNDPS No.56/2024 arising out of in crime no.20/2023 S.H.O I Town (L & O) P.S., Rajamahendravaram, and release the petitioner on such terms and conditions and pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. VALLEPU MOUNICA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1846/2026 ORDER: This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the BNSS, has been filed by the Petitioner herein/Accused No.1, seeking regular bail, in SCNDPS No.56/2024 on the file of learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Rajamahendravaram, arising out of in crime No.20/2023, S.H.O, I Town (L & O) P.S., Rajamahendravaram, registered for the offences punishable under Section 8(C) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (for short “NDPS Act”). 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 04.02.2023, at about 1:00 PM, near sand ramp, Godavari river bund, Rajamahendravaram, the Inspector of Police, I Town L & O Police Station, Rajamahendravaram, apprehended A-1 to A-5, when they were in possession of 22 Kgs of Ganja and seized the same, under the cover of mediators’ report. 3. Heard Ms. Vallepu Mounica, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that as the petitioner could not appear before the Trial Court in NDPS SC No.56 of 2024, the learned Trial Court issued non-bailable warrant against him. On execution of the same, the petitioner was produced before the Trial Court on 15.02.2025 3 and since then, he has been in jail. Learned counsel would further submit that the petitioner has been in judicial custody for more than one year. She would further submit that the petitioner has permanent abode at Rajamahendravaram and there is no scope of fleeing away from jurisdiction of the Trial Court. The investigation is completed and charge sheet is also filed in this matter. She would further submit that the non-appearance of the petitioner on the given date is not willful but is due to his arrest and judicial custody in another case in Cr.No.1066 of 2024 at Cyberabad. She would further submit that the petitioner is ready and willing to furnish sureties to the satisfaction of the Court. She finally prays to allow the petition. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the State vehemently opposed the petition and would submit that the contraband involved in the present case is 22 Kgs of Ganja, which is a commercial quantity. She further submitted that if the petitioner is released on bail, the proceedings in NDPS S.C. No. 56 of 2024 would be stalled, and it would be very difficult to secure his presence before the Court. She also submitted that initially NDPS S.C. No. 11 of 2024 was registered against A-1 to A-6. However, on 01.10.2024, when the petitioner was absent, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him. Due to non-execution of the said warrant, the case against the petitioner was split up and subsequently renumbered as NDPS S.C. No. 56 of 2024. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor finally prays for dismissal of the petition. 4 6. Considering the submissions made and on perusal of the material placed on record, it is seen from the record that the petitioner was produced before the Trial Court only after execution of a non-bailable warrant, and the case against him was split up due to his absence, as the warrant could not be executed for some time and the proceedings were delayed. Further, there is some force in the apprehension of the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor that the petitioner may jump bail if released. Since the case is now pending for trial, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. 7. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. However, the learned Trial Judge is directed to dispose of the main case i.e., NDPS S.C. No. 56 of 2024, as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of two (2) months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 13.03.2026. UPS 5 245 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 1846/2026 Dt.13.03.2026 UPS