Date of reserved for orders: Nil Date of pronouncement : 30.06.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010306962026 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: 4858/2026 Between: SANEDA GOVINDA ALIAS GOVINDU MESTHRI, S/O. SOMU NAIDU,AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS,R/O D.NO.2-32, ARJUNAGIRI AGRAHARAM,ARJUNAGIRI VILLAGE, CHEEDIKADA MANDALANAKAPALLI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, SHO, Proh. Excise Police Station Nellore - I,Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh,Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: BHOOMA MAHARSHI REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4858 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 Petitioner/Accused No.3 on bail in Crime No.146 of 2024 of Prohibition and Excise Station, Nellore-I, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.3 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Mr.Bhooma Maharshi Reddy, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and he has been falsely implicated by the police. It is further submitted that the petitioner is the sole earning member of the family and, therefore, his incarceration would cause undue hardship to his dependents. The petitioner undertakes 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 petitioner, submitting that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the petitioner is released on bail at this stage, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4858 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 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 petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner is arrayed as Accused No.3. His involvement in the offence came to light based on the confessional statements of Accused Nos.1 and 2, who were arrested at the scene of the offence. It is alleged that the petitioner was also involved in dealing with the contraband along with Accused Nos.1 and 2. However, the quantity of the contraband seized is not a commercial quantity. The petitioner voluntarily surrendered before the Station House Officer on 15.04.2026. He has been in judicial custody for the past 76 days. There are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. So far, five witnesses have been examined, all of whom are official witnesses. A substantial portion of the investigation with regard to the role played by the petitioner has already been completed. Therefore, the scope for the petitioner threatening the official witnesses, tampering with the evidence, or hampering the investigation may not arise. The petitioner is a permanent resident of Anakapalli District and he has got fixed abode. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioner/Accused No.3, this 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4858 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.3 on bail subject to some stringent conditions. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall be enlarged on bail subject to his 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 learned Special Judicial Magistrate of First Class for Trial of Prohibition and Excise Offences, Nellore. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.3 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/Accused No.3 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned. iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. v. The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall cooperate with the investigating officer in further investigation of the case and shall make himself available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required. 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4858 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.3 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. vii. The petitioner/Accused No.3 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the investigating officer. If he claims that he does not have passport, he shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the Investigating Officer. _________________________ 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.4858 of 2026 Dated 30.06.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4858 of 2026 Date: 30.06.2026 RSI