APHC010342682026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 21st DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5503/2026 Between: 1. VANTHALA PANTHULUBABU ALIAS GOUTHAM, ,S/O. PENTAYYA, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS,R/O. KULUPADU, PADABAYALU, GEMMELI PANCHAYAT,G. MADUGULA MANDAL, ALLURI SITHARAMA RAJU DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. BALABHADRUNI MANOHAR Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 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.8 on bail in Crime No.94 of 2024 of Koyyur Police Station, Alluri Sitharama Raju District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.8 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5503 of 2026 Dated 21.07.2026 111(2)(b) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity, ‘the BNS’) and Section 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3. On a perusal of the record, it is evident that the Petitioner is aged about 23 years and is at an impressionable age. The allegation against the Petitioner is that Accused No.1 engaged him by paying a sum of Rs.10,000/- for loading 851 kilograms of ganja into two vehicles. Two similar adverse antecedents have been reported against the Petitioner and, in addition, there is one IPC case registered against him. The role of the Petitioner came to light based on the confessional statements of Accused Nos.1 and 3, who were allegedly found in possession of and transporting 851 kilograms of ganja. The quantity involved is not merely a commercial quantity, but a colossal quantity. The Petitioner was arrested on 05.01.2026 and has been in judicial custody for the past 197 days. After completion of the investigation, the charge sheet was filed on 17.02.2026. Accused Nos.3, 8, and 9 have already been enlarged on bail by this Court. 4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.8, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.8 on bail with the following stringent conditions: 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5503 of 2026 Dated 21.07.2026 i. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall be enlarged on bail subject to him 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 Judicial First Class Magistrate, Chintapalli. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall appear before the learned Trial Court on every adjournment without fail. iii. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the learned Trial Court concerned. iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. v. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 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. vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 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. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 21.07.2026 KMS 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5503 of 2026 Dated 21.07.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITIONNo.5503 of 2026 Date:21.07.2026 KMS