The Court made the following:

ORDER:

1. The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.6 on bail in Cr.No.158 of 2026 on the file of Nathavaram Police Station, Anakapalli District, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 read with 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPSAct’).

2. Mr.K.K. Komalan, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and he has been falsely implicated by the Police. It is further submitted that the Petitioner is the sole earning member of the family and, therefore, his incarceration would cause undue hardship to his dependents. The Petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. In light of the foregoing submissions, learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice.

3. Per contra, Mr.A.Sai Rohith, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the Petitioner, submits that the investigation is still underway and several material witnesses remain to be examined. It is contended that if the Petitioner is released on bail at this stage, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, thereby hampering the ongoing investigation and evading the process of law. In view of the foregoing submissions, it is urged that the petition be dismissed.

4. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record.

5. On perusal of the record, it is evident that the Petitioner has been in judicial custody for the past 250 days. The period of remand was initially extended up to 180 days and, thereafter, the remand was further extended vide order dated 24.06.2026 in Crl.M.P.No.492 of 2026 on the file of the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for Trial of Offences under the NDPS Act, Visakhapatnam. However, no further extension of the period of remand was ordered by the learned Sessions Judge. The charge sheet has not yet been filed.

6. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.6, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.6 on bail subject to stringent conditions.

7. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following conditions:

i. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 shall be enlarged on bail subject to his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate, Narsipatnam.

ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 shall appear before the Station House Officer concerned, on every Saturday in between 10:00am and 05:00 pm, till filing of the charge sheet.

iii. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future.

iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in further investigation of the case and shall make himself available for interrogation by the Investigating Officer as and when required.

v. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 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/her from disclosing such facts to the Court.

vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.6 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the Investigating Officer. If he claims that he does not have passport, he shall submit affidavits to that effect to the Investigating Officer.