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2026:APHC:20156 APHC010156162026

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

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

MONDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2387/2026 Between:

1. M AHANKALI NAVEEN, S/O RAYUDU, AGED ABOUT30 YEARS, OCC BUSINESS, RAYUDU GENERAL STORESJANGAREDDYGUDEM

TOWN AND MANDAL,ELURU DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND

1. T HE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH S.H.O.JANGAREDDIGUDEM PROH. AND EXCISE STATION,ELURU DISTRICT, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT,

AMARAVATI.

...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:

1. G VENKATESWARLU Counsel for the Respondent/complainant:

1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following:

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THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2387 OF 2026

ORDER:-

The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya

Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) by the Petitioner/Accused No.2 for granting of pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime.No.9 of 2026 of Prohibition and Excise Station, Jangareddigudem, registered for the alleged offence punishable under Sections 7(B) r/w 8(A) &

(B) of A.P.Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2020.

2. Heard Mr.G.Venkateswarlu, learned counsel for the petitioner and Ms.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing the

respondent/State. Perused the record.

3. The case of the prosecution is that, on 30.01.2026 at about 2.00 p.m., the Prohibition and Excise Enforcement Staff, acting upon credible information, proceeded to Mysannagudem Village of Jangareddigudem Mandal. When they reached Pullepudi Canal East Side, they noticed one person behaving suspiciously and attempting to escape on seeing the officials. The said person was apprehended and on enquiry he disclosed his identity as Pithani Durga Pavan Kishore (A1). On inspection, the officials found one blue plastic drum of 200 liters capacity containing about 100 liters of FJ wash fit for distillation and 5 liters of ID liquor. The contraband was seized in the presence of mediators

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and samples were drawn. During interrogation, A1 stated that he had purchased jiggery from the shop of the petitioner/accused No.2, who is running a general stores shop at Jangareddigudem, and that the said jiggery was used for preparation of FJ wash for illicit distillation. The remaining wash was

destroyed on the spot and the case was registered.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in the alleged offence, without any cogent evidence linking to the commission of the crime. The learned counsel would further submit that, if the petitioner is arrested, it may cause great hardship to his employment. He also submits that the petitioner is ready and willing to furnish sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of the learned Trial

Court to secure his presence for the purpose of investigation.

5. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, submits that the petitioner, was involved in supply of jiggery which was used for preparation of illicit distillation. The investigation is at nascent stage and therefore urges this Court

to dismiss the Criminal Petition.

6. As seen from the record, the name of the petitioner/Accused No.2 surfaced during the investigation through the statement of accused No.1 regarding the source of jiggery used for preparation of FJ wash. Whether the said allegation is ultimately proved or not is a matter for trial, but at this stage

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the investigating agency must be given sufficient opportunity to verify the said aspect. It is also relevant to note that offences relating to illicit liquor have serious social and public health implications. Further, the investigation is still at a nascent stage, and the custodial interrogation of the petitioner may be necessary for effectiv