APHC010433002026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] TUESDAY, THE 8th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7162/2026 Between: 1. PUPPALA HIMA BINDU, D/O SURYANARAYANA, AGED 24 YEARS,OCC. B. TECH FINAL YEAR STUDENT.R/O NEAR I TOWN PALA DAIRY, VIJAYAWADA,NTR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. DASARI RAMAKOTESWAR RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7162 of 2026 Dated 08.09.2026 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.4 on bail in Crime No.266 of 2026 of Bhimunipatnam Police Station, Visakhapatnam Commissionerate District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.4 herein for the offences punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) read with 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3. Mr. Dasari Ramakoteswara Rao, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that there are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the Petitioner/Accused No.4. He further submits that the petitioner is a female aged about 24 years and a B.Tech final‑year student. She fell in love with Accused No.1 and has been falsely implicated in this case. The petitioner has not committed any offence. She is willing to abide by any conditions imposed by this Court and therefore prays that the criminal petition be allowed. 4. 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, 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7162 of 2026 Dated 08.09.2026 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 Criminal Petition. 5. On perusal of the record, the petitioner/Accused No.4 along with other accused was found in possession of 900 grams of Hash Oil. The seized quantity is not a commercial quantity. The petitioner was arrested on 09.08.2026 and has been in judicial custody for only the past 30 days. So far, six witnesses have been examined, and several more material witnesses remain to be examined. The investigation is at a crucial stage. At this juncture, request for enlarging the petitioner on bail is neither convincing nor reasonable. Hence, this Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed. 6. 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: 08.09.2026 Pmk/VMM 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.7162 of 2026 Dated 08.09.2026 101 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7162 of 2026 Date:08.09.2026 Pmk/VMM