APHC010605912025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 11675/2025 Between:

1. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, THROUGH THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE,NANDIGAMA PS, NTR DISTRICT,REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF AP, AT AMARAVATI.

...PETITIONER / STATE AND

1. KANNEGANTI SAJJANA RAO, S/O. RATNAM, AGED 51 YEARS, R/O.

NEAR FISH MARKET, CHANDAMAMPET, NANDIGAMA TOWN AND MANDAL, NTR DISTRICT.

2. BEJAWADA KARTHIK, S/O. VASANTHA RAO, AGED 29 YEARS,R/O.

D.NO. 1-83, OLD HARIJANAWADA, NANDIGAMA TOWN AND MANDAL, NTR DISTRICT.

3. PARIMI KISHORE, S/O. YAKOBU L, AGED 40 YEARS,R/O. D.NO.2-

19, NEW HARIJANAWADA, NANDIGAMA TOWN AND MANDAL, NTR DISTRICT

4. MARTA SRINIVASA RAO, S/O. VENKATESWARA RAO, AGED 40 YEARSR/O. NEAR WINE SHOP, PARITALA VILLAGE, KANCHIKACHERLA MANDAL, NTR DISTRICT.

...RESPONDENTS/ACCUSED:

Counsel for the Petitioner/State:

1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR Counsel for the Respondents/Accused:

1. VELADI SAI SRI HARSHA

2. P NAGENDRA REDDY The Court made the following:

ORDER:

The instant petition under Section 483(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short „BNSS‟) has been filed by the State seeking cancellation of the bail granted to the Respondents / Accused Nos.1 to 4 vide Order dated 23.11.2024 in C.F.No.5594 of 2024 on the file of the Court of Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Nandigama in connection with Crime No. 575 of 2022 of Nandigama Police Station, NTR District for the offences under Sections 120-B, 147, 307, 332, 324 and 353 read with 149 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short „IPC‟).

2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that Accused Nos. 1 to 4, being close associates and residents of Nandigama and surrounding areas, allegedly conspired with other Accused to eliminate Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who was then the Leader of the Opposition. On 04.11.2022, during a roadshow at Nandigama, while he was addressing the public from the “Prachara Radham,” one of the Accused allegedly hurled a stone, which struck his chin and caused injury. It is further alleged that the Accused targeted vital parts of his body with sharp-edged stones with an intention to kill him, but the attempt was thwarted by the intervention of security personnel.

3. Heard Sri M.Lakshmi Narayana, learned Public Prosecutor for the Petitioner / State and Sri P.Nagendra Reddy, learned counsel for the Respondents / Accused Nos.1 to 4.

4. Learned Public Prosecutor would submit that the investigation, based on the statements of LWs 1 to 25, clearly establishes that the incident involved a pre-planned attack. It is further submitted that the witnesses have consistently stated that there was a sudden power cut, immediately followed by stone pelting. LWs 15 to 17, the linemen accompanying the roadshow of Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, confirmed that the street lights were deliberately switched off and stones were thrown, causing injury to LW1.

Learned Public Prosecutor further submitted that independent eyewitnesses, including LW-18 and LW-22, identified the Accused as participants in the attack, with specific roles attributed to them in pelting stones and cutting power supply. LW-23‟s statement regarding recording the incident in his mobile phone and being threatened, and the confessional statement of LW-25 before LW-24, clearly reveal a criminal conspiracy to target and kill Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu by planning to attack in darkness.

It is further submitted that the material on record prima facie attracts alleged offences against Respondents / Accused Nos.1 to 4. Despite the gravity of the offence and strong evidence indicating a conspiracy and direct involvement of the Accused Nos.1 to 4, they were released on bail. Learned Public Prosecutor would further submit that Accused Nos.1 to 4 also have criminal antecedents. In view of the seriousness of the allegations