APHC010289222026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY,THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4657/2026 Between: 1. PATURU SANKAR, S/O. CHINNA RAO, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS,R/O. KAPATUTI VILLAGE, CHITRAKONDA TEHSIL,MALKANGIRI DISTRICT, ODISHA STATE. 2. KELEBU KRISHNA, S/O. SANYASI RAO RAMESH, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS,R/O. CHALLANISILPA VILLAGE, DUPPULAVADA PANCHAYAT,G.K. VEEDHI MANDAL, ALLURI SITHARAMA RAJU DISTRICT. 3. BATTA SAI KUMAR, S/O. PANDANNA, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS,R/O. CHALLANISILPA VILLAGE, DUPPULAVADA PANCHAYAT,G.K. VEEDHI MANDAL, ALLURI SITHARAMA RAJU DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): GOLLAPALLI MAHESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4657 of 2026 Dated 15.06.2026 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioners/Accused Nos.2, 7 and 8 on bail in Crime No.17 of 2024 of Sileru Police Station, ASR District, registered against the Petitioners/Accused Nos.2, 7 and 8 herein for the offence punishable under Sections 111(2)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNS’) and 20(b)(ii)(C), Section 25 read with 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Mr.G.Maheswara Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the petitioners are innocent and that they have not committed any offence. They have been falsely implicated in this case. They are law- abiding citizens. Since the charge sheet has been filed in this case, the petitioners would not be in a position to tamper with the evidence. The petitioners would abide by any conditions that this Court deems fit to impose while enlarging them on bail. The petitioners have been in judicial custody for the past 265 days. Hence, it is urged to enlarge the petitioners on bail. 3. Per contra, Mr.K.Sandeep, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, submits that the petitioners have allegedly indulged in dealing with 223.100 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4657 of 2026 Dated 15.06.2026 Kgs of ganja, which is a commercial quantity. Petitioner No.1 acted as the provider of ganja and petitioner Nos.2 and 3 acted as transporters of ganja. The charge sheet was filed within 180 days and, therefore, the petitioners are not entitled to any relief. It is urged to dismiss the petition considering the gravity of the case. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. On perusal of the record, it is clear that on 03.10.2024, the Sub- Inspector of Police, Sileru Police Station, seized 223.100 Kgs of ganja under cover of a mediators' report. The petitioners were allegedly indulged in dealing with ganja, which is a colossal quantity. The petitioner No.1/Accused No.2 had allegedly acted as the provider of ganja and petitioner No.2/Accused No.7 along with petitioner No.3/Accused No.8 had allegedly acted as transporters of ganja. In this case, after thorough investigation, the charge sheet was filed within 180 days from the date of remand of the petitioners, which was numbered as N.S.C. No.151 of 2026 and is pending for trial. The petitioners were apprehended on execution of a P.T. Warrant. 6. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances of the case, the gravity and nature of the allegations levelled against the petitioners/Accused Nos.2, 7 and 8, and in view of the filing of the charge sheet, there are no merits in granting bail to the petitioners/Accused Nos. 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4657 of 2026 Dated 15.06.2026 2, 7 and 8 at this juncture. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 15.06.2026 RSI 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4657 of 2026 Dated 15.06.2026 48 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4657 of 2026 Date: 15.06.2026 RSI