APHC010175452026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] THURSDAY,THE NINTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2561/2026 Between: SURESH RAMANNA, S/O. RAMANNA, AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, R/O. N0.52 M E S ENGLISH SCHOOL ROAD, PARVATHI NAGAR LAGGERE, BANGLORE NORTH, PO, PEENYA SMALL INDUSTRIES, KARNATAKA PIN-560058 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1.THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THRU G.R.P STATION, VIJAYAWADA REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, AMARAVATI. 2.MOTHER OF THE VICTIM GIRL, MOTHER OF THE VICTIM GIRL ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1.KAKUMANU JOJI AMRUTHA RAJU Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1.PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2561 of 2026 ORDER: This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed by the petitioner/Accused, seeking regular bail, in Sessions Case No.52 of 2019 on the file of the Court of Special Judge for Speedy Trial of Offences under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Vijayawada in Crime No.252 of 2016 of Railway Police Station, Vijayawada City, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 363, 343, 509, 354-A(1)(i) Indian Penal Code and Section 12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. 2. Heard Sri Kakumanu Joji Amrutha Raju, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs.K.Priyanka Lakhmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that when the matter was coming up for hearing on charges, the petitioner/accused failed to appear before the trial Court and no representation on his behalf. Consequently, the trial Court issued Non-Bailable Warrant against the petitioner on 02.03.2022. On 02.03.2026 the petitioner appeared before the trial Court by filing a petition under Section 70(2) of Cr.P.C. and the same was dismissed and the petitioner was remanded to judicial custody. He would further submit that since then the petitioner has been in judicial custody. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that due to corona, financial struggles, lack of knowledge and due to ill health, the petitioner failed to attend the Court. He would further submit that the petitioner voluntarily attended the court on 02.03.2026 and the petitioner is ready to furnish sureties to the satisfaction of the Court. He finally prays to allow the petition. 3 5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the petition and submitted that the petitioner absconded for four years and case is coming up for hearing on charges. She finally prays for dismissal of the petition. 6. Considering the submissions made and on perusal of the material placed on record, as rightly contended by the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, the petitioner remained absent for nearly four years, leading to issuance of a Non-Bailable Warrant, and has failed to offer any satisfactory explanation for such prolonged absence. The reasons cited are general and unsubstantiated. Considering that the case is at the stage of hearing on charges and the conduct of the petitioner reflects disregard to the Court process, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail. 7. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. However, the learned Trial Judge is directed to expedite the trial and dispose of the case as expeditiously as possible, and report the progress of the matter to the Registrar (Judicial) by 09.05.2026. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed. __________________________________________ DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 09.04.2026 SAB 4 71 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2561 of 2026 Dt.09.04.2026 SAB