APHC010443122026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 1st DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7374/2026 Between: 1. CHELLURI NAGESH BABU, S/O. KRISHNA, AGED 40 YEARS. CASTE BC-D NAGAVAMSAM,D.NO.4-107, DAKAMARRI VILLAGE,BHIMILI MANDAL, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT,PH9885012805,AADHAAR NO.3776 1019 2011 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, HighCourt of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi,Nelapadu, Guntur District ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. SINGURU SAI KRISHNA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: ORDER: 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.8 on bail in Crime No.156 of 2025 of Kirlampudi Police Station, Kakinada District, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Mr.Singuru Sai Krishna, learned Counsel for the Petitioner, submits that the Petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and 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 Petition. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohith, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of 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 bail at this stage, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law and urged to dismiss the Petition. 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 is arraigned as Accused No.8 in this case. The role of the Petitioner came to light based on the confession of the co‑accused. It is further submitted that the Petitioner has been in judicial custody for the past 193 days pursuant to his arrest on 20.02.2026. The Petitioner is alleged to have dealt with 355.570 kgs of ganja. No doubt, the seized ganja is not only a commercial quantity but also a colossal quantity. 6. A remand extension petition was filed on the 172nd day from the date of initial remand, but no orders were passed thereon. Be that as it may, the Petitioner has been in judicial custody beyond the default period of 180 days, and the Charge Sheet has not yet been filed, as submitted by the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. 7. The Petitioner is a permanent resident of Dakamarri Village, Bhimili Mandal, Visakhapatnam District. 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. 8. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.8, and the period of incarceration in judicial custody, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.8 on bail subject to stringent conditions. 4 9. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall be enlarged on bail subject to him executing a bond for a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate, Prathipadu. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, on every Saturday in between 10:00 am and 05:00 pm, till filing of the charge sheet. iii. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall not leave the limits of the Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer 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 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.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. vii. The Petitioner/Accused No.8 shall surrender his passport, 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: 01.09.2026 PRA 5 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7374 of 2026 Date: 01.09.2026 PRA