ORDER:

Y.LAKSHMANA RAO, J.

The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for brevity, “Cr.P.C.”) / Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity, “BNSS”), challenging the order dated 29.01.2026 passed by the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for trial of offences under the NDPS Act, Visakhapatnam, in Crl.M.P. No.75 of 2026 in Crime No.102 of 2025 of Makavarapalem Police Station, whereby the petition filed by the prosecution under Section 36A(4) of the Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances, Act, 1985 (for brevity 'the NDPS Act') was allowed, extending the remand period of the Petitioner/Accused and other accused beyond 180 days.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner has relied upon the judgment in Hitendra Vishnu Thakur v. State of Maharashtra, 1994 AIR 2623, wherein, at paragraphs Nos.23, 24 and 31 it is held as under:

“23... We may at this stage, also on a plain reading of clause (bb) of sub- section (4) of Section 20, point out that the Legislature has provided for seeking extension of time for completion of investigation on a report of the public prosecutor. The Leg