1 APHC010463442026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3504] MONDAY, THE 7th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7740/2026 Between: 1. KAREDDUALA PRATAP KUMAR, S/O. RAMA MOHAN,AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCC RATION SHOP DEALER,R/O. RAMAKRISHNAPURAM, E-BLOCK-486, VOMBAY COLONY,PAYAKAPURAM, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. - 520001 ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESHAT AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. - 522237. 2. NALLIGALA LAKSHMANA RAO, S/O. RAMULU,AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, OCC ASST. SUPPLIER OFFICER ASOR/O. PLOT NO. 101, PRAGATHI AWINES, RAMAVARAPADU,VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. -520001 ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Courtquash the proceedings in CC. No. 289 of 2026, on the file of Hon’ble VI Additional Judicial Magistrate, Vijayawada, Under Section 318(4) of BNS or Section 7 (1) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and pass 2 IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition,the High Court may be pleased pleased to dispense with the filing of certified Copy of the CC. No. 289 of 2026, on the file of Hon’ble VI Additional Judicial Magistrate, Vijayawada, Under Section 318(4) of BNS or Section 7 (1) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and pass IA NO: 2 OF 2026 Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition,the High Court may be pleased tay all further proceedings in CC. No. 289 of 2026, on the file of Hon’ble VI Additional Judicial Magistrate, Vijayawada, Under Section 318(4) of BNS or Section 7 (1) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, pending disposal of the petition including appearance of the petitioners, Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: 1. K SRINIVAS Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 3 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7740 of 2026 ORDER:- Instant Criminal Petition, under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023, has been filed on behalf of the petitioners herein (Accused), seeking to quash the proceedings in CC No.289 of 2026 on the file of VI Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Vijayawada for the offences punishable under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 7(1) of the Essential Commodities Act,1955. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of respondent No.1-State. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners, after arguing for some time, has confined his argument to the extent of dispensing with the presence of the petitioner (Accused) before the trial Court by submitting petitioner’s practical constraints in attending before the trial Court and states that petitioner shall not dispute his identity at a later stage of proceedings. 4. On the other hand, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor contended that specific accusations have been made as against the petitioner herein and truth or otherwise of the said accusations has to be decided during the course of trial, hence, there are no grounds to quash the proceedings at this stage. 4 So far as dispensing with the presence of the petitioner, before the trial Court, he has not opposed the same. 5. Since there are specific accusations that have been made as against the petitioner herein, which are all disputed questions of fact, the same can be decided during the course of trial, and this Court, in a petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023 corresponding to Section 482 Cr.P.C., would not be in a position to conduct roving enquiry into the disputed questions of fact and quash the proceedings at this stage. 6. In this context, it is apt to note the dictum held in State of Uttar Pradesh and Another Vs. Akhil Sharda and Others1, by the Apex Court in its vivid terms in the following way: 7. Having gone through the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court by which the High Court has set aside the criminal proceedings in exercise of powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., it appears that the High Court has virtually conducted a mini trial, which as such is not permissible at this stage and while deciding the application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. As observed and held by this Court in a catena of decisions no mini trial can be conducted by the High Court in exercise of powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., jurisdiction and at the stage of deciding the application under Section 482 Cr.P.C., the High Court cannot get into appreciation of evidence of the particular case being considered. 12022 LiveLaw (SC) 594 5 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is not inclined to quash the proceedings against the petitioner herein. However, due to ground realities submitted by the counsel for the petitioners, presence of petitioner herein (Accused) before the VI Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Vijayawada, in C.C.No.289 of 2026 is hereby dispensed with, except on those dates when the learned trial Court feels that his presence is necessary. In the event of failure of the petitioner to appear, when the trial Court specifically directs, this Order shall stands automatically revoked, without recourse to this Court. 8. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is disposed of. 9. Needless to state that the petitioner is at liberty to raise all the grounds before the trial Court. As a sequel, all pending applications shall stand closed. ____________________________________ JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM Date: 07.09.2026 RMR 6 131 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 7740 of 2026 07.09.2026 W RMR