HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Criminal Petition No.868 of 2025

Order:

This Criminal Petition, under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed by the petitioner/Accused, seeking anticipatory bail, in connection with Crime No.576 of 2024 of Prohibition and Excise Station, Rajamahendravaram South, East Godavari district.

2. A case has been registered against the petitioner herein for the offence punishable under Section 7-B read with 8-A of the A.P. Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2020.

3. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that, on 25.12.2024, at about 08.00 AM, on credible information, the Sub-Inspectors of Police, Prohibition and Excise Station, Rajamahendravaram South, along with his staff, proceeded to the scene of offence and found 800 litres of FJ wash in 4 plastic drums, each drum containing about 200 litres of FJ wash, fit for distillation of ID liquor. On enquiry, they came to know that the said FJ wash drums belonged to the petitioner/accused. After drawing sample, they destroyed the remaining FJ wash under cover of a special report and a case has been registered against the accused.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and he is falsely implicated in the present crime and nothing has been seized from his possession. He further submits that most of the investigation is completed.

5. On the contrary, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that the investigation is in progress and if the petitioner is granted anticipatory bail, he may hamper the process of investigation and tamper with the prosecution evidence.

6. Heard. Perused the record.

7. A perusal of the material on record goes to show that the name of the petitioner herein was shown as accused in the present crime based on the statements given by the persons, who are working in the cattle shed situated near the scene of offence and no contraband is seized from the possession of the petitioner/accused. Major portion of investigation is completed.

8. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner/Accused on the following conditions.

i) In the event of arrest of the petitioner herein/Accused in the aforesaid crime, he shall be enlarged on bail on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties of the like sum each to the satisfaction of the concerned Arresting Officer.

ii) Petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required, and he shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.

iii) Petitioner shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned once in a week i.e., on every Saturday between

10.00 AM and 01.00 PM till filing of charge sheet.

9. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed.

As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed.

_______________________ K. SREENIVASA REDDY, J Dated:12.02.2025 Nsr HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Criminal Petition No.868 of 2025 Dated:12.02.2025 Nsr