APHC010438752026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE 31st DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7277/2026 Between: 1. SUBIRAMANI RAVI, S/O. SUBIRAMANI, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,D.NO.77, MELPATTU ROAD, KUTTATHUR VILLAGE AND POST,MELSILAMBADI PANCHAYAT,TIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU STATE. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh, at Amaravati through RSASTFP.S., Tirupati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. SRINIVASU L 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 2 enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail in Crime 13 of 2026 of RSASTF P.S., Tirupati registered for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 303(2) r/w 3(5), 49, 61(2) of BNS, Sec. 20(1) (c)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(x) r/w 20(1)(d)(i)(a), 36(a) r/w 32A of AP Forest (Amendment) Act, 2016 2. Mr. Srinivasu. L, 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. The Petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, it is urged to allow the Criminal Petition. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohith, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the Petitioner, submits 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 they may abscond, thereby hampering the 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. 3 5. On perusal of the record, the Petitioner was arrested on 11.07.2026 and he has been in the judicial custody for the past 51 days. The petitioner/Accused No.1 had acted as coolie in cutting down the Red Sander trees and transporting 3 logs of red sander wood weighing about 106 kgs. There are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the Petitioner. So far, six witnesses are examined, and the material portion of the investigation is completed. The Petitioner is permanent resident of Tamilnadu State. He has got fixed abode. If the Petitioner is enlarged on bail subject to stringent conditions, there is no likelihood of his interfering with the investigation, threatening witnesses, or tampering with evidence. 6. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.1, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail subject to stringent conditions. 8. 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 him 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 First Class-cum-Special Court for Trial of cases relating to Red Sanders Smuggling, Tirupati. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, on every Saturday in 4 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 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. 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 passports, 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:31.08.2026 SSA/JS 5 51 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7277 of 2026 Date:31.08.2026 SSA/JS