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2026:APHC:41187 APHC010147552026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY,THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2252/2026 Between:

1.MENDA NARAYANA RAO, S/O. LATE CHINNA RAMULU, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARSR/O. D. NO. 1-76, PEDDA VEEDHI,ALLADAPETA

VILLAGE, JALUMURU MANDAL,SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P.

...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND

1.THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep by its Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS

praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Courtmay be pleased to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail pending disposal of Crime No.28/2026 of

Airport P.S., Visakhapatnam District and to pass such Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:

1.KOLLI USHA KIRANMAYEE Counsel for the Respondent/complainant:

1.PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

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THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2252/2026

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya

Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed by the petitioner/Accused No.3, seeking regular bail, in FIR.No.223 of 2025, on the file of the Santhapeta Police Station, SPSR Nellore District, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic

Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 16.12.2025 at about 08:00 hours, the accused were found in illegal possession of a commercial quantity of ganja at their residence in Kapadipalem, Nellore. Based on credible information, the police apprehended Accused Nos.1 to 4, recorded their confessions in the presence of a Gazetted Officer and mediators, and seized 20.950 kg of ganja along with Rs.5,600/-. A case was registered on the basis of the seizure mahazarnama. During interrogation, the accused revealed that the contraband was procured from Odisha through Accused No. 5, who is absconding. Accused Nos. 1 to 4 were arrested on 17.12.2025 and have been

in judicial custody since then.

3. Heard Ms. Y.L.Siva Kalpana Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs.K. Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing

on behalf of the State.

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4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and that she has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. She was falsely implicated in this case. The petitioner has been in judicial custody since 17.12.2025. The petitioner is a woman. All the family members are in jail. The investigation might have been completed by this time. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is ready to furnish sureties to the satisfaction of the Court and finally prays to grant bail to

the petitioner.

5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the petition and submitted that the contraband involved in the present case is a commercial quantity of 20.950 kilograms of Ganja and that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 17.12.2025. The petitioner was arrested while she was in possession of the contraband. Statutory period is also not over. She would further submit that there are 6 criminal antecedents pending against the petitioner/accused No.3. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor

therefore prayed for dismissal of the petition.

6. Considering the submissions and a fair look on the material placed before this Court, it is a case involving 20.950 Kgs of Ganja, which is a commercial quantity. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that there are

6 antecedents pending against the petitioner/accused No.3.

7. The Hon’ble Apex Court in State of Kerala v. Rajesh1 at Paragraph

Nos.8, 19, 20 and 21 held as under:

1(2020)12SCC122

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8. To curb