APHC010577982025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

MONDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 11195/2025 Between:

RAJESH MANSUKHLAL CHAVDA ALIAS RAJESH KUMAR CHAVDA, S/O. MANSUKHLAL B CHAVDA, AGE 68 YRS,OCC THE THEN DIRECTOR OF M/S. SRI VYSHNAVI DAIRY PRODUCTS PVT. LTD.R/O. FLAT NO. 302, POONAM VIEW,VIKRANT CIRCLE, RB MEHTHA MARG,GHATKOPAR EAST, MUMBAI.

...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND

1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESHAT AMARAVATI.

2. THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER, SIT, ANDHRA PRADESH, TIRUPATI,THROUGH ITS SPL. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,C.B.I., HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESHAT AMARAVATI.

...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:

1. D PURNACHANDRA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S):

1. P S P SURESH KUMAR, Spl. Public Prosecutor for CBI

2. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:

ORDER

The instant Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, by the Petitioner / Accused seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.470 of 2024 on the file of Tirupati East Police Station, Tirupati City which is registered for the offences under Sections 274, 275, 316(5), 318(3), 318(4), 61(2), 299, 336(3), 340(2) read with Sections 49 and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’) and Sections 51 and 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (for short ‘FSS Act’) and Sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (for short ‘PC Act’).

2. Heard Sri D.Purnachandra Reddy, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Sri P.S.P.Suresh Kumear, learned Special Public Prosecutor for CBI.

3. Learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that the Petitioner herein is Accused No.20 in the present crime. Learned counsel would further submit that the investigation in the present crime has been completed and charge sheet has also been filed. It is submitted that there are no allegations or specific overt acts attributed against the Petitioner. Learned counsel would submit that, Section 35(3) of BNSS notice has been issued to the Petitioner. It is submitted that the Petitioner ceased to be the Director of Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Products Private Limited by 15.01.2024, which is prior to the registration of the present case. Learned counsel would further submit that the Petitioner is ready to furnish sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of the Court. Hence, prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the Petitioner.

4. Per contra, learned Special Public Prosecutor for CBI would submit that, being the Director of A.6-Company, the Petitioner is responsible for the day- to-day affairs of the said Company. It is further submitted that the Petitioner along with the other Accused conspired together with dishonest intention and thereby cheated TTD. It is further submitted that the investigation reveal specific allegations against the Petitioner. It is submitted that the Petitioner has not at all cooperated for the investigation and he played a crucial role in supplying the adulterated cow ghee to TTD. There are no grounds to grant anticipatory bail to the Petitioner, at this stage. Hence, prayed for dismissal of the petition.

5. Considering the submissions made by both sides and on perusal of the material available on record, this Court is of the view that the investigation with regard to the Petitioner has already been completed and the charge sheet has also been filed. Further, this Court had earlier granted interim protection to the Petitioner, which is in force as on date. At this stage, continuation of the said interim protection would meet the ends of justice.

6. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is disposed of and the interim protection granted earlier to the Petitioner shall stand continued subject to the conduct of the Petitioner during the proceedings, on the following condition