APHC010369042026 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: 5966/2026 Between: 1. MADI SIVAGANEASH DORA, S/O MADI SANKURU DORA, AGED 21 YEARS,R/O D.NO. 6-67, DIRISINAPALLI VILLAGE,FOUKS PETA PANCHAYAT, RAMPACHODAVARAM MANDAL,POLAVARAM DISTRICT. 2. CHAVALAM KARTHIK DORA, S/O CHAVALAM RAMANNA DORA, AGED 23 YEARS,R/O D.NO. 6-49, DIRISINAPALLI VILLAGE,FOUKS PETA PANCHAYAT, RAMPACHODAVARAM MANDAL,POLAVARAM DISTRICT ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradeshat Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): K SRIMANNAARAYANA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5966 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 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 Petitioners/Accused Nos.3 and 4 on bail in Crime No.14 of 2026 of Mothugudem Police Station, Polavaram District, registered against the Petitioners/Accused Nos.3 and 4 herein for the 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.K.Srimannarayana, the learned counsel for the Petitioners submits that the Petitioners are innocents of the alleged offence and they have been falsely implicated in the alleged offence. They have not committed any offence. They are law-abiding citizens. They are the sole breadwinners of the family. They have got fixed abode. The Petitioners undertake to abide by any conditions that this Court may impose while granting bail to the Petitioners. Hence, it is urged to allow the petition. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohit, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioners, submitting that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the petitioners are released on bail at this 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5966 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 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 petitioners and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioners are arrayed as Accused Nos.3 and 4. There are no adverse antecedents reported against the petitioners. The petitioners have already filed a bail application in Crl.M.P.No.666 of 2026 before the learned Trial Court, and the same was dismissed on 19.05.2026. It is alleged that the petitioners, along with the other accused, were in possession of and transporting 22.00 Kgs. of ganja, which is a commercial quantity. The investigation is at a crucial stage. The petitioners were arrested on 27.05.2026 and have been in judicial custody for the past 89 days. 6. Further, statutory period of judicial remand for 180 days is also not completed. In this connection, it is relevant to refer the following decisions of the Hon’ble Apex Court. 7. In Union of India v. Ram Samujh1, the Hon’ble Supreme Court at Paragraph No.7 observed that narcotic offences have a grave and far- reaching impact on society, destroying numerous lives. The Court further 1(1999) 9 SCC 429 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5966 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 held that drug traffickers pose a continuing threat to society and, therefore, the statutory restrictions must be strictly enforced. 8. In Durand Didier v. State (UT of Goa)2, the Hon’ble Apex Court at Paragraph No.24, observed that illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs has become a serious social menace, particularly affecting the youth. The Court further noted that, in view of its devastating impact on society, Parliament enacted stringent provisions under ‘the NDPS Act’ to effectively combat the menace. 9. The Hon’ble Apex Court in State of Kerala v. Rajesh3, at Paragraph Nos.8, 19, 20 and 21, held that bail under ‘the NDPS Act’ can be granted only upon strict compliance with the mandatory conditions prescribed under Section 37. The Court further observed that "reasonable grounds" require substantial material showing that the accused is not guilty, and recording such a finding is a sine qua non for grant of bail. 10. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case and in view of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Ram Samujh, Durand Didier and Rajesh, the request of the petitioners cannot be considered at this juncture inasmuch as there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the petitioners have not indulged in the commission of the alleged offence and that they would not commit any offence if they are 2(1990) 1 SCC 95 3(2020) 12 SCC 122 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5966 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 released on bail.. There are no merits in this case for grant of bail to the petitioners. Hence, this Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed. 11. 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:24.08.2026 RSI 6 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5966 of 2026 Dated 24.08.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5966 of 2026 Date: 24.08.2026 RSI