APHC010441882026 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: 7345/2026 Between: 1. MALIREDDY NARENDRA REDDY, S/O. PRABHAKAR REDDY,AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, OCC UNEMPLOYED,R/O. LANKELA KURAPADU VILLAGE, MUPPALLA MANDAL,PALNADU DISTRICT.PIN-522408 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. through Nallapadu Police Station,Rep.by Public Prosecutor. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. SHAIK MUKTHIYAR 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 enlarge the Petitioner/Accused on bail in Crime No.146 of 2026 of Ongole Taluk Urban Police Station, Prakasam District, registered for the alleged 2 offences punishable under Sections 331(3) and 305(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity, ‘the BNS’). 2. Mr. Shaik Mukthiyar, 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. He is a law-abiding citizen. 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, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the Petitioner and submitted that, though the charge sheet has already been filed, the accusations against the Petitioner are well‑founded. Hence, it is urged to dismiss the Criminal Petition. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. On perusal of the record, the Petitioner is the sole accused in this case. After thorough investigation, Charge Sheet has been filed. The Petitioner was arrested on 17.04.2026. He has been in judicial custody for the past 137 days. 6. Though the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that there are three adverse similar adverse antecedents reported against the Petitioner, it is well‑settled that the Petitioner is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The 3 Hon’ble Apex Court in Prabhakar Tewari v. State of Uttar Pradesh1 at para No.7, observed that mere pendency of criminal antecedents itself is not a ground to deny the request for grant of bail. 7. The Petitioner is a permanent resident of Lankela Kurapadu Village, Muppalla Mandal, Palnadu District. He has got fixed abode. If the Petitioner is enlarged on bail, he is likely to cooperate with the learned Trial Court for expeditious disposal of the case. 8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused on bail with some stringent conditions. 9. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused shall be enlarged on bail subject to his 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 III Additional Munisiff Magistrate, Ongole. ii. The Petitioner/Accused shall appear before the learned Trial Court on each and every adjournment without fail. 1 (2020) 11 SCC 648 4 iii. The Petitioner/Accused shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the learned Trial Court concerned. iv. The Petitioner/Accused shall not involve himself in similar offences during the period of bail. v. 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: 01.09.2026 PRA 5 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7345 of 2026 Date: 01.09.2026 PRA