APHC010666342025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] THURSDAY, THE TWENTY NINETH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 12771/2025 Between: 1. M ANIL KUMAR ALIAS ANIL, JOURNALIST, HNO.4-1, BOUDENPETA, SETTIPETA, NINDADAVOLU MANDAL, WEST GODAVARAI DISTRICT 2. DULAPALLI BABU RAO, JOURNALIST, DNO.40135, GANDHI BOMMA VEEDHI, CHIVATAM VILLAGE, UNDRAJAVARAM MANDAL, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravathi ...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 Courtpleased to enlarge the Petitioners/Accused No.3 5 on bail in the event of their arrest in Cr.No.l75 of 2025 of Penugonda PS, West Godavari District on such terms and conditions in the interest of justice and pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): 1. N N SOMENDRA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 12771 of 2025 ORDER : The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the Petitioners/Accused Nos.3 and 5 for granting of anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.175/2025 of Penugonda Police Station, West Godavari District registered for the offences punishable under Section 126(2), 319(2), 308(5) r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘the BNS’). 2. Heard Mr. N.N.Somendra Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners and Ms.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are the innocent persons, they are no way concerned with the present case. There is no material on record to suggest that the petitioners committed any offence. It is further submitted that the petitioners are ready and willing to furnish sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court to secure their presence for the purpose of investigation. 4. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the petition and would submit that the petitioners are habitual offenders and they involved in other cases also, investigation is not yet completed and finally prays for dismissal of the petition. 3 5. Considering the submissions made, upon perusal of the material on record, and in light of the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioners, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners at this stage. 6. At this juncture, learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petition may be disposed of by granting liberty to the petitioners to surrender before the learned Jurisdictional Magistrate and to move a regular bail application, and that a direction may be issued to dispose of the said application as expeditiously as possible. 7. Considering the submissions made, the Criminal Petition is disposed of giving liberty to the petitioners/accused Nos.3 and 5 to surrender before the learned Jurisdictional Court concerned within one (01) week from the date of receipt of copy of this order, and move an appropriate application before the learned Jurisdictional Court concerned. The learned Jurisdictional Court concerned is directed to dispose of the said application in accordance with law, on its own merits by giving due and sufficient opportunity to the learned Public Prosecutor concerned, and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________ DR.VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA, J Date: 29.01.2026 sj 4 230 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 12771/2025 29.01.2026 sj