APHC010124832026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] WEDNESDAY,THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2061/2026 Between: 1. J PAVAN, S/O LATE JEEVA, AGED 26 YEARS, 2-574, THUMMEDAPALEM VILLAGE, GUDIPALA MANDAL, CHITTOOR DISTRICT,ANDHRA PRADESH. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, AT AMARAVATI THROUGHBHAKARAPETA RANGE, TIRUPATI. ...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 Grant bail to the Petitioner/Accused No. 2 in CR.NO.48/2025-26 of Bhakarapeta Range for the offences under section 20(1)(c) (vi)&(x), Sec.29(4)(a),(b), Sec.30(1)(a)(i), Sec.30(1)(d)(i), Sec.32A, Sec.32B & Sec.32C of A.P. Forest Act, 1967 of A.P. Forest (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act No. 15 of 2016), A.P. Sandalwood and Red Sanders wood transit rules, 1969- Rule 3, U/Sec.303(2) of BNSS, 2023 pending disposal of the case before the competent court, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. SRINIVASU L Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 2 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 3 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2061/2026 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 OR.No.48/2025-26 of FRO, Bhakarapeta Range, registered for the offences under Sections 20(1)(c)(vi) & (x), 29(4)(a)(b), 20(1)(d)(a), 32A, 32B, 32C of the A.P.Forest (Amendment) Act, 2016, Rule 3 of Andhra Pradesh Sandal Wood and Red Sanders Wood Transit Rules, 1969 and Section 303(2) of BNS, 2023. 2. The case of the prosecution in brief is that, this is a case of trespass into reserve forest, cutting and felling of red sander trees and transportation of red sander dressed logs to unknown destinations by way of smuggling that occurred on 06.02.2026 at about 11.00 PM, near SYB Ellamanda Mango Mandi, between Prasad Nagar from Ellamanda Circule, in which accused No.2 was arrested and 49 red sander logs weighing 763 Kgs was seized from the possession of accused. 3. Heard Sri Srinivasu.L, 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 submits that the petitioner, who is Accused No.2, has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further 4 submits that there is no element of truth in the allegations made in the report and that the petitioner is in no way connected with the alleged incident. The petitioner is the sole breadwinner of his family, and his continued incarceration would cause hardship to them. It is also submitted that the petitioner is willing to furnish sureties to the satisfaction of the Court. The petitioner has been in judicial custody since 06.02.2026 and crucial part of the investigation might have been completed by this time. He finally prays for grant of regular bail to the petitioner. 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the petition and submitted that the investigation is at a crucial stage and that the statutory period has not yet been completed. It was also submitted that the investigation is pending with regard to the arrest of Accused No.1 and there are 3 other case pending against the petitioner. She contended that, if the petitioner is released on bail, there is every likelihood of the petitioner committing similar or other offences, tampering with evidence, and influencing or threatening witnesses. She would further submit that the contraband involved in this case is 49 red sander logs weighing about 736 Kgs. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor finally prays for dismissal of the petition. 6. Considering the submissions and on perusal of the material on record and in view of the seriousness of the allegations, the stage of the investigation, and the quantity of contraband involved in this case, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner/accused No.2 at this stage. 5 7. Accordingly, this Criminal petition is dismissed. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 18.03.2026. UPS 6 284 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2061/2026 Dt.18.03.2026 UPS