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Judgment
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.3 on bail in Crime No.143 of 2026 of Chilakaluripet Town Police Station, Palnadu District, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 8(c) read with 22(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’).
Mr.Nandireddy Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, learned Counsel for the Petitioner, submits that the Petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and 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. The Petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence, it is urged to allow the Petition.
Per contra, Mr.Neelotpal Ganji, 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, 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 Petition.
Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record.
On perusal of the record, the Petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.3 in this case. The Petitioner was found in possession of 8 grams of MDMA. The involvement of the Petitioner came to light based on the confessions of Accused Nos.1 and 2, who were also found in possession of 8 grams of MDMA. There are no adverse antecedents reported against the Petitioner. So far, seven material witnesses have been examined. Except for obtaining the RAL report and effecting the arrest of Accused Nos.5 and 6, the rest of the investigation has been completed. The Petitioner was arrested on 02.07.2026 and has been in judicial custody for the past 70 days. He is a permanent resident of Narasaraopet, Palnadu District. He has got fixed abode. If the Petitioner is enlarged on bail subject to stringent conditions, there is no likelihood of his interfering with the investigation, threatening witnesses, or tampering with evidence.
Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.3, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.3 on bail subject to stringent conditions.
In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions:
The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall be enlarged on bail subject to him executing a bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division), Chilakaluripet.
The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, on every Saturday in between 10:00 am and 05:00 pm, till filing of the charge sheet.
The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall not leave the limits of the Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned.
The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future.
The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in further investigation of the case and shall make himself available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required.
The Petitioner/Accused No.3 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.
The Petitioner/Accused No.3 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the investigating officer. If he claims that he does not have passport, he shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the Investigating Officer.