APHC010289202026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY,THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4656/2026 Between: 1. ARAJALLA NARESH ALIAS GUNDUKAKI, S/O YERRANNAAGE 23 YEARS, R/O D.NO. 20-124-10,GOHA VEEDHI ,VISAKHAPATNAM. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Through Station House Officer,I Town Police Station,Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh,Amaravathi, Guntur District. ...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 release the petitioner on bail in connection with Crime No. 53 of 2026 on the file of the I Town Police Station and pass Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. BANDI PRAVEENA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 The Court made the following: 3 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4656 /2026 ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 & 483of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the Petitioner/Accused for granting of bail in connection with Crime No.53 of 2026 of I Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam District registered for the alleged offence punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(B) r/w. 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. 3. The case of the prosecution is that on 06.04.2026, on receipt of credible information the Sub-Inspector of Police along with his staff and mediators rushed to Ghat road, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, KGH, Visakapatnam. One suspicious person possessing and transporting the ganja weighing about 5.096 kgs., on seeing police checking panicked and attempted to flee, but he was detained by the police. The police seized the contraband, arrested the accused and remanded them to judicial custody. 4. Mr. Bandi Praveena, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and did not commit the alleged offence and have been falsely implicated by the police. It is further contended that the petitioner would abide by any condition to be imposed by this Court if he is enlarged on bail and it is urged to allow the Criminal Petition. 4 5. Per contra, Ms. P. Akhila Naidu, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed to grant of bail to the petitioner submitting that there are two similar antecedents reported against the petitioner and five more IPC offences are also registered against the petitioner. So far only 7 witnesses are examined. Material portion of investigation is not completed and it is urged to dismiss the Criminal Petition. 6. Thoughtful consideration is bestowed on the arguments advanced by the learned Counsel for both sides. I have perused the entire record. 7. In the light of the case of the prosecution and the contentions of the learned Counsel for both the sides, now the point for consideration is: “Whether the Petitioner is entitled for grant of bail?” 8. As seen from the record, the petitioner is a sole accused. He was found in possession of 5.096 kgs of ganja illegally. He was arrested on the spot on 06.04.2026. He has been in judicial custody for the past 71 days. Only seven witnesses are examined. Some more material witnesses are to be examined. Substantial portion of investigation is not completed. It is reported that the petitioner is a rowdy sheet holder. There are two similar adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner vide Crime Nos. 80 of 2024 & 84 of 2024. Apart from this case five more IPC offences are also registered against the petitioner. 9. In view of the pendency of the investigation, the request of enlarging the petitioner on bail at this juncture is not found reasonable. 5 10. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 16.06.2026 AG 6 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4656/2026 Date: 16.06.2026 AG