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Judgment
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.7 on bail in Crime No.225 of 2024 of Gopalapatnam Police Station, Visakhapatnam District, registered for the 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’).
Mr.B.Manohar, 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. He is law-abiding citizen. He is the sole breadwinners of the family. The petitioner undertake 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.
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, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. In view of the foregoing submissions, it is urged that the petition be dismissed.
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record.
As seen from the record, except this petitioner/Accused No.7, the other accused were enlarged on bail by the learned trial Court on 12.05.2025 vide Order in Crl.M.P.Nos.979 of 2025, 410 of 2025, 409 of 2025, 412 of 2023 and 41 of 2025. There are no similar adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. The role of the petitioner came into light based on the confession given by the co-accused. Petitioner was arrested on 07.01.2026. He has been in judicial custody for the past 244 days. Charge sheet was filed after thorough investigation and it was numbered as NSC.No.184 of 2026 on the file of the learned I Additional District Judge, Visakhapatnam. The alleged incident was taken place on 01.10.2024. The petitioner is permanent resident of Alluri Sitharama Raju District. He has got fixed abode.
Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, gravity of nature of allegations levelled against the petitioner, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner/Accused No.7 on bail with stringent conditions.
In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions:
The Petitioner/Accused No.7 shall be enlarged on bail subject to his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two sureties each for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned II Additional Judicial Magistrate, Visakhapatnam.
The Petitioner/Accused No.7 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.7 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the Station House Officer concerned.
The Petitioner/Accused No.7 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future.
The Petitioner/Accused No.7 shall cooperate with the investigating officer in further investigation of the case and shall make themselves available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required.
The Petitioner/Accused No.7 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.