Date of reserved for orders :Nil Date of pronouncement :03.07.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010284592026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] FRIDAY, THE 3rd DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4570/2026 Between: MERIPO LAVANYA, W/O KISHORE, A/26 YEARS, HOUSE WIFE,R/AT D.NO. 2-144, SANTHAPYDIPALA VILAGE,ROUTHALAPUDIMANDAL, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, ,Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court at Amaravathi Through S.H.O., K.D.Peta P.S, Anakapalli Dist., ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: SRINIVAS JARUGU Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4570 of 2026 Dated 03.07.2026 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.6 on bail in Crime No.10 of 2026 of K.D.Peta Police Station, Anakapalli District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.6 herein for the offences punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 read with 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Mr. Jarugu Srinivas, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and has been falsely implicated by the police. The petitioner is a female aged about 26 years. She is blessed with two children aged 2 years and 4 years, respectively. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the children of the petitioner have been suffering from several health problems due to the absence of the petitioner. The petitioner has been in judicial custody for the past 149 days. The petitioner has also been suffering from intestinal carcinoma. 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.K.Sandeep, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner, submitting that the 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4570 of 2026 Dated 03.07.2026 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 she 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 petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner is arrayed as Accused No.6. The petitioner is a lady. The petitioner's husband is Accused No.3 in this case. The petitioner was arrested on 05.02.2026. She has been in judicial custody for the past 149 days. This Court, vide order dated 18.06.2026 in Crl.P.No.4454 of 2026, enlarged Accused No.4 on bail with certain stringent conditions. The petitioner is a permanent resident of East Godavari District and has got fixed abode. Therefore, the scope for the petitioner threatening the official witnesses, tampering with the evidence, or hampering the investigation may not arise. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the health condition of the petitioner and also the health condition of her children, and the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioner/Accused No.6, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.6 on bail, subject to some stringent conditions. 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4570 of 2026 Dated 03.07.2026 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 shall be enlarged on bail subject to her executing a bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate, Narsipatnam. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 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.6 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.6 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. v. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 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/Accused No.6 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.4570 of 2026 Dated 03.07.2026 acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 03.07.2026 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.4570 of 2026 Dated 03.07.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 4570 of 2026 Date: 03.07.2026 RSI