APHC010450962026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE 7th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7497/2026 Between: 1. NAGESH HANTAL ALIAS VANTHALA NAGESH, S/O SANA AGE 25 YEARS, R/O DAGUDUPALLI VILLAGE, DHULIPUT PANCHAYAT,CHITRAKODA BLOCK, MALKANAGIRI DISTRICT ODISHA STATE 764052 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Through Station House officer,A.Annavaram Police Station, VisakhapatnamRep. by Public Prosecutor,High Court at Amaravati. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. RAMINENI SUDHEER 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 No.2 on bail in Crime No.4 of 2026 of Annavaram Police Station, Alluri Sitharama Raju District, registered for the 2 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.Ramineni Sudheer, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that there are no adverse antecedents against the petitioner. The petitioner has been in the jail for the past 210 days. He is innocent of the alleged offence and he has been falsely implicated by the police. He is law-abiding citizen. He is the sole breadwinners of the family. The petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. In light of the foregoing submissions, the learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice. 3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohith, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner, submitting that after thorough investigation, charge sheet was filed well within 180 days and accusations against the petitioner are well founded. 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. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner was arrested on 09.02.2026. He has been in the judicial custody for the past 210 days. The petitioner was arrested on the spot while he was involved in transportation of 308.220 Kgs. of ganja. It is not only a commercial quantity but also a colossal quantity. The allegation against the petitioner is that he was working as a 3 mechanic and suitably converted the vehicle for carrying 308.220 Kgs. of ganja intended for transportation. After completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed on 08.06.2026, well within 180 days from the date of petitioner’s remand to judicial custody. The accusations against the petitioner are well founded based on the averments of the charge sheet. 6. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations, and the material available on record, this Court is not inclined to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner/Accused No.2. Accordingly, this Court finds no merit in the Criminal Petition, and the same is liable to be dismissed. 7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 07.09.2026 BMS