APHC010272492026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] FRIDAY,THE EIGHTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 14237/2026 Between: 1. THE NELLORE ARYA VYSYA BULLION MERCHANTS AND PAWN BROKERS ASSOCIATION,, A REGISTERED SOCIETY BEARING REGISTRATION NO. 160 OF 1992, HAVING ITS OFFICE AT NELLORE, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY ARAVETI VENKATA PHANINDRA KUMAR, S/O. A VENKATA SUBBA RAO, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, R/O. 10/400, SANTHEPETA, NELLORE - 524001. 2. M. HAZARATHAIAH,, S/O. RATHNAM MAKAM, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, R/O. CHINNA BAZAR, NELLORE., BEING PROPRIETOR, NEW SAI PAWN BROKER D.NO. 19/1/173, OPP. CHINNA BAZAR, NELLORE-524001. 3. PUVVADI HARA GOPAL, S/O. P. CHENGAIAH, AGED ABOUT 80 YEARS, R/O. SANTHAPET, NELLORE. BEING PROPRIETOR, SRI VENKATA LAKSHMI PAWN BROKER, D.NO. 11/810 SANTHAPET, NELLORE - 524001. 4. POKURU VENKATA NITESH BABU,, S/O. P. VENKATESWERLU, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, R/O. 18-1-213, ACHAN STREET, NELLORE. BEING PROPRIETOR, KRISHNA PAWN BROKER D.NO. 18-4-142, ACHAN STREET, NELLORE - 524001. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, .REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, 2 Dr.YLR, J W.P.No.14237 of 2026 Dated 08.05.2026 VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522239. 2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522503. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT, NELLORE -524001. 4. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, NELLORE SUB- DIVISION, NELLORE - 524001. 5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, I TOWN POLICE STATION, NELLORE - 524001. 6. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, II TOWN POLICE STATION, NELLORE - 524001. 7. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, III TOWN POLICE STATION, NELLORE - 524001. 8. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, IV TOWN POLICE STATION, NELLORE - 524001. 9. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, V TOWN POLICE STATION, NELLORE - 524001. 10. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, VI TOWN POLICE STATION, NELLORE - 524001. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. V ROOPESH KUMAR REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME The Court made the following: ORDER: The Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief :- 3 Dr.YLR, J W.P.No.14237 of 2026 Dated 08.05.2026 “…to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents their subordinates, and the police personnel of Nellore City, more particularly the Station House Officers and staff of Respondents No. 5 to 10 Police Station, in calling the members of the 1st petitioner association who are running jewellery and gold pawn shops in the limits of the respondent police stations interfering in disputes arising out of pledge transactions, directing or coercing them to settle the claims of customers even after expiry of the pledge period and after conduct of auction of pledged gold ornaments in accordance with law, and threatening registration of criminal cases at the instance of complainants or political influence, as illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction, violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct the respondents not to interfere in such civil/business disputes or compel settlements through police machinery except in accordance with law and only where any complaint discloses a cognizable offence, and to pass such order(s).” 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the Petitioners and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home. 3. Sri V. Roopesh Kumar Reddy, learned counsel for the Petitioner, submits that the respondent police are illegally interfering in disputes arising out of jewellery pledge transactions and are coercing pawn brokers to settle customer claims by threatening registration of criminal cases even after lawful auction of the pledged ornaments. 4. Sri P. Ajay Babu, learned Assistant Government Pleader, on instructions, submits that based on the complaint lodged by Guda Revindra Reddy, the police have registered Crime No. 60 of 2026. It is further submitted that the case was registered only for the purpose of investigation and that the police have not interfered in any civil dispute. 5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and recording the submissions of the learned Assistant Government Pleader, the Writ Petition is 4 Dr.YLR, J W.P.No.14237 of 2026 Dated 08.05.2026 disposed of, directing the Respondent police to follow due process of law in regard to the Crime No.60 of 2026 registered against one of the Petitioners. 6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. ________________________ Dr.Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 08.05.2026 KMS 5 Dr.YLR, J W.P.No.14237 of 2026 Dated 08.05.2026 272 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 14237 of 2026 Date: 08.05.2026 KMS