Anticipatory Bail Petitions Under S.438 CrPC & S.482 BNSS Dismissed Upon Petitioner's Withdrawal: Andhra Pradesh High Court - 2025-06-26

Andhra Pradesh High Court Dismisses Multitude of Anticipatory Bail Pleas as Withdrawn

Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh – March 28, 2025 – The High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, presided over by the Honourable Dr. Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa , dismissed a large batch of criminal petitions seeking anticipatory bail after the petitioner expressed intent to withdraw them. The common order was passed in a series of petitions filed by Bapanapalli Venkateswara Rao @ Venkat against the State of Andhra Pradesh.

Case Background

The petitioner, Bapanapalli Venkateswara Rao @ Venkat, aged 47, of Ongole Town, had filed numerous criminal petitions (including Nos. 1079, 1080, 1081, 1121, and many others of 2025) before the High Court. These petitions, filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.) and Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), sought pre-arrest bail in connection with multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against him at the I Town Police Station, Ongole, Prakasam District. The FIRs, predominantly from the year 2023, with one dating back to 2022 (Cr. No. 54/2022 in Crl.P. No. 1325 of 2025), related to various alleged offenses.

Each petition prayed for the High Court to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest concerning specific crime numbers. Some petitions also included a prayer to direct the respondent police not to arrest the accused until the disposal of the respective criminal petition.

Court Proceedings and Submissions

During the hearing on March 28, 2025, Sri Nalluri Ramesh Babu , counsel for the petitioner Bapanapalli Venkateswara Rao @ Venkat, made a significant submission. As noted in the Court's common order:

"When the matter is taken up for hearing, Sri Nalluri Ramesh Babu , learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that they intend to withdraw the petitions and hence the same may be disposed of."

Representing the State of Andhra Pradesh, Ms. K. Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, responded to the petitioner's submission:

"Ms. K.Priyanka Lakshmi , learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that the Court may pass appropriate orders."

Court's Decision

Accepting the submissions from both sides, the High Court proceeded to dispose of all the listed criminal petitions. The Honourable Dr. Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa , in the common order, stated:

"Considering the submissions made, the Criminal Petitions are dismissed as withdrawn. Pending applications, if any, shall stand closed."

Implications of the Order

The dismissal of these numerous anticipatory bail petitions as withdrawn means that the petitioner is no longer pursuing pre-arrest bail from the High Court through these specific legal avenues at this time. The underlying investigations or criminal proceedings related to the various FIRs registered at I Town Police Station, Ongole, are not affected by this procedural dismissal unless otherwise determined by law. The reasons for the withdrawal were not detailed in the judgment.