APHC010358752026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] THURSDAY, THE 13th DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5779/2026 Between: PASUPULETI GIRIBABU, S/O MADHAVULU,AGED 40 YEARS, R/O.D.NO.20/125A, KOTHAVEEDHIGATE PUTTUR, PUTTURTOWN, TIRUPATI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Station House Officer,Tada Police Station, Tirupati District,Rep by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: MANIKANTA THOTA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5779 of 2026 Dated 13.08.2026 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.3 on bail in NDPS Sessions Case No.21 of 2025 (Crime No.03 of 2025 of Chillakur Police Station), registered against the petitioner/Accused No.3 herein for the offences punishable under Section 8(c) read with Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity, ‘the NDPS Act’), on the file of the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Nellore. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3. As seen from the record, the petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.3 in NDPS S.C.No.21 of 2025. The petitioner did not appear before the learned Trial Court on 04.02.2026 and there was no representation on his behalf. Therefore, the learned Trial Court was constrained to issue a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against the petitioner. The petitioner did not approach the learned Trial Court seeking cancellation of the NBW. Subsequently, the petitioner was arrested on 01.06.2026 pursuant to execution of the NBW and was produced before the learned Magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody. 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5779 of 2026 Dated 13.08.2026 4. It was submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner before the learned Trial Court that the petitioner was not aware of the date of hearing of the case and, therefore, could not appear before the learned Trial Court. However, the learned Trial Court did not accept the said explanation. It was further observed in the impugned order that, on 04.02.2026, Accused Nos.1 and 2 were called absent, but their absence was condoned as an application was filed on their behalf seeking condonation of their absence. However, when Accused Nos.3 to 6 were called absent, no such application was filed. Therefore, the learned Trial Court issued an NBW against the petitioner. 5. The learned Trial Court further observed that the petitioner wilfully did not approach the learned Trial Court. The learned Trial Court apprehended that, if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, he may not appear for the trial, resulting in the case being adjourned on account of his absence. The learned Trial Court also observed that, from time to time, the case had been adjourned on account of the absence of the petitioner and other accused. The learned Trial Court rightly observed that, if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, in all probability, he may cause delay in the disposal of the matter. 6. The allegation against the petitioner is that he was indulged in dealing with 28.00 Kgs. of ganja, which is a commercial quantity. 7. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.3 on bail. If the petitioner remains in judicial custody for some more time, the learned Trial 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5779 of 2026 Dated 13.08.2026 Court would be in a position to complete the trial and pronounce the judgment. Therefore, this Court finds no merit in the Criminal Petition. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed. 8. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 13.08.2026 RSI 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5779 of 2026 Dated 13.08.2026 36 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5779 of 2026 Date: 13.08.2026 RSI