Date of reserved for orders: Nil Date of pronouncement : 30.06.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010307472026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 30th DAY OF JUNE 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4869/2026 Between: 1. KARNATI SARADA ALIAS M SATYAVATHI, W/O. JAKKAIAHAGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, OCCUPATION HOUSEHOLD,R/O. D.NO. 3-3-136, GUDIVADA APPANNA COLONY,GAJUWAKA, VISAKHAPATNAM. 2. PANAGANTI BUJJIBABU, S/O. RAMAKRISHNA, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS,R/O. D.NO. 35-6-62, GIRIPURAM, VIJAYAWADAKRISHNA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): 1. TAMADA RAMJI VARMA 2. K SARVA BHOUMA RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4869 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 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.1 and 2 on bail in Crime No.170 of 2026 of Gajuwaka Police Station, Visakhapatnam District, registered against the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 143(2), 144(2) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNS’), 3(1), 4(1), 5(1)(a) of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. 2. Mr.K.Sarvabhouma Rao, the learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that the petitioners are innocent of the alleged offence and they have been falsely implicated by the police. It is further submitted that the petitioners are the sole earning members of the family and, therefore, their incarceration would cause undue hardship to their dependents. The petitioners undertake to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. In light of the foregoing submissions, the learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice. 3. Per contra, Mr.P.Somayaji, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioners, submitting that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the petitioners are released on bail at this 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4869 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 stage, there is a strong likelihood that they may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. In view of the foregoing submissions, it is urged that the petition be dismissed. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner/Accused No.1 was running a brothel, as per the mediator's report. However, she was also a victim due to her poverty. The petitioners were arrested on 05.05.2026. They have been in judicial custody for the past 56 days. There are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the petitioners. The allegation against petitioner/Accused No.2 is that he was running the brothel along with Accused No.1. Accused No.2 is a male aged about 25 years. So far, nine witnesses have been examined, all of whom are official witnesses. 6. Having regard to the nature of the allegations levelled against petitioner/Accused No.1, and in view of the fact that petitioner/Accused No.1 was also participating in sexual intercourse with a person and was herself a victim due to her poverty, this Court is inclined to enlarge petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 on bail, subject to the following stringent conditions. i. The Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 shall be enlarged on bail subject to her executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4869 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 learned III Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam. ii. The Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, on every Saturday in between 10:00 am and 05:00 pm, till filing of the charge sheet. iii. The Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned. iv. The Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. v. The Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 shall cooperate with the investigating officer in further investigation of the case and shall make herself available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required. vi. The Petitioner No.1/Accused No.1 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court. 7. Insofar as the allegations against petitioner No.2/Accused No.2 are concerned, it is alleged that he was running the brothel. The investigation with 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4869 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 regard to the running of the brothel is still pending. Hence, the petition insofar as petitioner No.2/Accused No.2 is concerned is dismissed for the present. 8. In the result, the Criminal Petition is partly allowed. ________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 30.06.2026 RSI Whether the order is : Speaking Yes/No / Reasoned Yes/No Reportable Yes/No / Non-Reportable Yes/No 6 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4869 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4869 of 2026 Date: 30.06.2026 RSI