\ [ 3396 ] IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX iPRESENT: THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2453 OF 2026 Between: Ghattamaneni Purushothem Chowdarry, S/o G.Venkateswar Rao, aged about 28 yearsR/o H.No.14-1-97, Garagalamma Veedhi,Eye Hospital Backside, Peda Boddepalli,Narsipatham, Anakapalli District. Petitioner/Accused No.2 AND The State of Andhra Pradesh, through SHO,P.M.Palem Police Station Visakhapatnam,rep.by the Public Prosecutor,High Court Buildings at Amaravati. Respondent/Complainant Petition Petition under Sections 480 & 483 of BNSS (Old Sections 437 & 439 of Cr.P.C), is filed praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the Criminal Petition, the High Court may be pleased to enlarge the petitioner/A2 on bail in connection with Crime No. 452 of 2025 of P.M.Palem Police Station, Visakhapatnam. The petition coming on for hearing, upon perusing the Petition and the affidavit filed in support thereof and upon hearing the arguments of SRI KOCHIRI RAJA SHEKAR Advocate for the Petitioner, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR Advocate for the Respondent and the Court made the following. ORDER 7 I APHC010161962026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2453/2026 [3396] Between: GHATTAMANENI G.VENKATESWAR RAO, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARSR/O H.NO.14-1-97, GARAGALAMMA VEEDHI,EYE HOSPITAL BACKSIDE, PEDA BODDEPALLLNARSIPATHAM, ANAKAPALLI DISTRICT. PURUSHOTHEM CHOWDARRY, S/0 t ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH SHO,P.M.PALEM POLICE STATION, VISAKHAPATNAM.REP.BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT BUILDINGS AT AMARAVATI. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. KOCHIRI RAJA SHEKAR Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: ORDER: This Criminal Petition under Sections 480 and 483 of Bharatiyana Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS.’), has been filed by the Petitioner / Accused No.2, seeking regular bail in connection with Crime No.452 of 2026 of P.M.Palem Police Station, Visakhapatnam, registered for the offence under Section 20(b)(ii) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (for short ‘NDPS Act’). 2 2. Heard Sri Koppiri Raja Sekhar, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Ms.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing the F^espondent/State. Learned counsel for the Petitioner/Accused No.2 would submit that the Petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and the Petitioner was not present at the relevant time and place. It is further submitted that, except the confessional statement of Accused No.1, there is no material to show the involvement of the Petitioner in the alleged offence. Learned counsel would further submit that the Petitioner has been in jail since 23.01.2026. submitted that the contraband seized in this case is a non-commercial quantity and the statutory period is also completed. Learned counsel would t submit that Accused No.1 was already released on bail. Hence, prayed for grant of bail to the Petitioner Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that the contraband seized in this case is a non-commercial quantity. It is further submitted that Accused No.1 is already released on bail. Having regard to the totality of the circumstances, including the period of custody of the Petitioner, nature of allegations, parity with co-accused, and absence of substantial material at this stage, this Court is of the view that the Petitioner / Accused No.2 is entitled to be enlarged on bail. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following 3. It is 4. 5. 6. conditions. 3 The Petitioner / Accused No.2 shall be released on bail on (i) execution of a personal bond for Rs.20,000/- (Rupees twenty thousands only) with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of tlie trial Court. The Petitioner shall appear before the concerned Station House Officer twice in a month, i.e., on 2"^^ and 4*^ Sundays between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., till filing of the charge sheet. (ii) (iii) The Petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation and shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required. (iv) The Petitioner shall not involve in any similar offences during the pendency of the case. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any! shall stand closed. SD/- N.NAGAMMA ASSISTANT REGISTRAR SECTION OFFICER //TRUE COPY// To, Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Bheemunipatnam. 1. The XVI 2. The SHO, P.M.Palem Police Station, Visakhapatnam. 3. The Superintendent, Central Prision, Visakhapatnam. SRI. KOCHIRI RAJA SHEKAR Advocate [OPUC] Public Prosecutor, High Court of AP at Amaravati. [OUT] 4. OneCCto 5. TwoCC’sto 6. One spare copy TVSR \ HIGH COURT DR.VJP,J DATED: 07/04/2026 ORDER CRLP.No.2453 of 2026 ALLOWED