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APHC010713262025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396]
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
FRIDAY, THE SIXTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION Nos: 13503 & 13504/2025 and 27 /2026 Criminal Petition No:13503 of 2025:
Between:
E DDALA NAVEEN KRISHNA, S/O.RADHA KRISHNA AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/O.D.NO.5-29, AMNDATHIPURAM, PUDIPATLA VILLAGE, TIMPATHI RURAL MANDAL, TIRUPATHI DISTRICT.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED No.36 AND
11. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH S.H.O. CID PS,REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF AP AT AMARAVATHI.
22. THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM, REP BY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VIJAYAWADA, VIJAYAWADA, NTR KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:
1. P NAGENDRA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S):
1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:
Criminal Petition No.13504 of 2025:
Between:
M . BALAJI KUMAR YADAV, S/o.KULLAYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, R/O.D.No.3-118, M.R.PALLY, TIRUPATHI, TIRUPATHI DISTRICT.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED No.35 AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH S.H.O. CID PS, REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF AP AT AMARAVATHI.
2. THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM, REP BY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VIJAYAWADA, VIJAYAWADA, NTR KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:
VELADI SAI SRI HARSHA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S):
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:
Criminal Petition No.27 of 2026:
Between:
B OONETI CHANAKYA, S/O.LACHAPPA SAILU, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/O.D.NO.1-7-511/4, HARI NAGARJAMISTHANPUR, MUSHEERABAD, HYDERABAD, TELANGANA.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED No.8 AND T HE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM, REP BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:
1. G L NAGESWAR RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant:
1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:
APHC010713262025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396]
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
FRIDAY, THE SIXTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION Nos: 13503 & 13504/2025 and 27 /2026 Criminal Petition No:13503 of 2025:
Between:
E DDALA NAVEEN KRISHNA, S/O.RADHA KRISHNA AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/O.D.NO.5-29, AMNDATHIPURAM, PUDIPATLA VILLAGE, TIMPATHI RURAL MANDAL, TIRUPATHI DISTRICT.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED No.36 AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH S.H.O. CID PS,REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF AP AT AMARAVATHI.
2. THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM, REP BY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VIJAYAWADA, VIJAYAWADA, NTR KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:
1. P NAGENDRA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S):
1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:
Criminal Petition No.13504 of 2025:
Between:
M . BALAJI KUMAR YADAV, S/o.KULLAYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, R/O.D.No.3-118, M.R.PALLY, TIRUPATHI, TIRUPATHI DISTRICT.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED No.35 AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH S.H.O. CID PS, REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF AP AT AMARAVATHI.
2. THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM, REP BY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VIJAYAWADA, VIJAYAWADA, NTR KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:
VELADI SAI SRI HARSHA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S):
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:
Criminal Petition No.27 of 2026:
Between:
B OONETI CHANAKYA, S/O.LACHAPPA SAILU, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/O.D.NO.1-7-511/4, HARI NAGARJAMISTHANPUR, MUSHEERABAD, HYDERABAD, TELANGANA.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED No.8 AND T HE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM, REP BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:
1. G L NAGESWAR RAO Counsel for the Respondent/complainant:
1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:
COMMON ORDER:
These Criminal Petitions under Sections 480 and 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, 1For short ‘BNSS’ have been filed by the Petitioners/Accused Nos.8, 35 and 36, seeking regular bail in connection with Crime No.21 of 2024 of CID Police Station, Mangalagiri, registered for the offences 409, 420, and 120-B read with Sections 34, 37 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, For short ‘IPC’ and Sections 7, 7(a), 8, 13(1)(b) & 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, For short ‘PC Act’
2. As the different Accused in these Petitions relate to the same crime, for ease of understanding, they are disposed of by this common order. However, each individual petition is determined with reference to the respective Petitioner.
Case of the Prosecution, in concise, is as follows:
3. The present crime arises out of allegations concerning large-scale irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy and functioning of the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) during 2019 to 2024. The matter came to light upon a representation made to the Principal Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, on 26.08.2024 by one Venkateswara Rao Srinivas, alleging irregularities in the excise policy from 2019 to 2024. The report highlighted issues such as unfair discrimination in the allocation of Orders for Supply (OFS) of liquor, leading to the suppression of established brands and preferential treatment for new brands, in violation of existing norms. It also raised concerns about the shift from an automated to a manual OFS system, which could allow for manipulations. After an enquiry, Principal Secretary referred the complaint to CID Police, Mangalagiri, which registered a case in Crime No.21 of 2024 against unknown persons on 23.09.2024, alleging offences under Sections 409, 420, and 120-B of IPC. On 05.02.2025, the Government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), vide G.O.Rt.No.262 to investigate the alleged irregularities in the excise policy and related crimes.
4. Petitioners herein are Accused Nos.8, 35 and 36 in the above crime. The allegations against the Petitioner/Accused No.8 are that, he acted as an Operations Commander in the alleged ₹3,500 crore Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam, managing kickback collections, using aliases to conceal his identity, arranging SIM cards through fraudulent KYC documents, organizing cash collection and distribution networks, coercing distilleries, facilitating laundering of funds abroad, and coordinating movement of illicit money with the co-accused. It is further alleged that he played a key role in transporting cash to intended beneficiaries.
5. It is alleged against the Petitioners / Accused Nos.35 and 36 that, they being the Personal Assistants to the former MLA of Chandragiri Assembly Constituency (Accused No.38), organised the movement and logistics of cash allegedly generated through kickbacks for the purpose of buying votes in the A.P.General Elections, 2024. Arguments advanced at the Bar:
6. Heard Sri N.Ashwani Singh, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Sri G.L.Nageswara Rao, learned counsel for the Petitioner / Accused No.8, Ms.Liz Mathew, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Sri Veladi Sai Sri Harsha, learned counsel for the Petitioner / Accused No.35 and Sri K.S.Murthy, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Sri P.Nagendra Reddy, learned counsel for the Petitioner / Accused No.36 and Sri Posani Venkateswarlu, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Sri M.Lakshmi Narayana, learned Public Prosecutor for State.
Arguments advanced on behalf of Accused No.8:
7. Sri N.Ashwani Singh, learned counsel assisted by Sri G.L.Nageswara Rao, learned counsel for the Petitioner / Accused No.8 would submit that the prosecution case is based on general and cyclostyled statements of witnesses, many of whom are alleged co-conspirators, and no specific overt act is attributed to the Petitioner. Even as per the prosecution, the alleged conspiracy meetings were conducted by Accused Nos.1 t
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