Date of reserved for orders : Nil Date of pronouncement :10.07.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010334782026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] FRIDAY, THE 10th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5347/2026 Between: SATYA KRISHNA UDAY KIRAN KARRI, S/O. SRINIVASA RAO, AGED 34 YEARS,R/O. FLAT NO. 503, RATNA ENCLAVE,0PP. GEETHAM DEGREE COLLEGE,KAKINADA. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF A.P., AMARAVATI. 2. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, SARPAVARAM POLICE STATION,KAKINADA RURAL, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: MALLAVOLU NIKITHA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5347 of 2026 Dated 10.07.2026 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.1 on bail in Crime No.203 of 2026 of Sarpavaram Police Station, Kakinada District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.1 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) read with 22(b), 27(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Ms.M.Nikitha, 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. He is a law-abiding citizen. 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.A.Rohit, 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.5347 of 2026 Dated 10.07.2026 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 arraigned as Accused No.1. It is alleged by the prosecution that the petitioner was found in possession of 5 grams of Methamphetamine, which is not a commercial quantity. The commercial quantity is 50 grams. In the mediators' report, it is observed that the petitioner was in possession of the contraband for his personal use. The petitioner was arrested on 05.06.2026. He has been in judicial custody for the past 35 days. There are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. However, a case under Section 420 of ‘the IPC’ was registered against the petitioner. The FSL report is awaited; however, the inventory proceedings have been completed. So far, four witnesses have been examined, all of whom are official witnesses. Therefore, the possibility of the petitioner threatening the official witnesses, tampering with the evidence, or hampering the investigation may not arise. The petitioner is a permanent resident of Kakinada District. He has got fixed abode. If the petitioner is enlarged on bail subject to stringent conditions, he may not evade the process of law. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.1, this Court 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5347 of 2026 Dated 10.07.2026 is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail with some stringent conditions. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 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 Mobile Judicial First Class Magistrate, Kakinada. ii. The Petitioner/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/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/Accused No.1 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. v. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 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.5347 of 2026 Dated 10.07.2026 vi. The Petitioner/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. vii. The petitioner/Accused No.1 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: 10.07.2026 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.5347 of 2026 Dated 10.07.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5347 of 2026 Date: 10.07.2026 RSI