APHC010427912026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE 24th DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7053/2026 Between: GONNURU SIVA MANIKANTA, S/O SURIBABU, HINDU,AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS,R/O RAGHUNADHAPURAM VILLAGE,RAJANAGARAM MANDAL, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: KADIYAM NEELAKANTESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7053 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the petitioner/Accused for granting of pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime No.128 of 2026 of Rajamahendravaram South Prohibition and Excise Station, East Godavari District, was registered for the alleged offence punishable under Sections 7-B read with 8-A of the Andhra Pradesh Prohibition Act, 1995. 2. Sri Kadiyam Neelakanteswara Rao, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner is the innocent of the alleged offence. He is a law-abiding citizen. He has not committed any offence. He is the sole breadwinner of the family. He has been falsely implicated by the police. There are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. The petitioner undertake to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. In light of the foregoing submissions, learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohit, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed the grant of pre-arrest 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 pre-arrest bail, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7053 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. Hence, 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 at an impressionable age of 20 years. The case was registered against the petitioner on the allegation that he was involved in the possession of 800 litres of F.J. Wash. There are no adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. The petitioner is a permanent resident of East Godavari District and has got fixed abode. 6. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances of the case, the gravity and nature of the allegations levelled against the petitioner/Accused, the alleged role played by him in this case, this Court deems it fit to grant pre- arrest bail to the petitioner/Accused with the following conditions: 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following conditions: i. In the event of his arrest, petitioner/Accused shall be enlarged on bail subject to his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the arresting police officials; ii. The petitioner/Accused shall make himself available for investigation as and when required; 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7053 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 iii. The petitioner/Accused shall not cause any threat, inducement or promise to the prosecution witnesses iv. The petitioner/Accused shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned once in a week i.e., on every Saturday between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m., till filing of the charge sheet. v. The petitioner/Accused shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without the express permission from the Station House Officer concerned. vi. The petitioner/Accused 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. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 24.08.2026 RSI 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7053 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7053 of 2026 Date: 24.08.2026 RSI