Praveen Raj Purohit, Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh

Petition under Section 437/438/439/482 of Cr.P.C and 528 of BNSS praying that in the circumstances stated in the Memorandum of Grounds of Criminal Petition, the High Court pleased to grant Regular bail to the Petitioner/Accused No.3 in connection with the Crime No.54 of 2023 of Bommuru Police Station for the offence under Section 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C) of the NDPS Act, 1985 in the interests of the justice

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Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:

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1.MANGENA SREE RAMA RAO

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Counsel for the Respondent/complainant:

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1.PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

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The Court made the following:

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ORDER :

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The instant Criminal Petition is filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, by the Petitioner/Accused No.3, seeking to enlarge him on bail in connection with the Crime No.54 of 2023 of Bommuru Police Station, which is registered for the offence punishable under Section 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short (NDPS Act’).

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The brief facts of the case, as per the contents of the First Information Report are that the Sub Inspector of Police, Bommuru Police Station on credible information conducted vehicle check on 21.02.2023 at 2.15 p.m. at the scene of offence i.e, at NH-16 road junction, Diwancheruvu village, Rajanagaram Mandal and found A.1 and A.2 illegally transporting 337.460 kgs of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drug (CannabisGanja) in a lorry bearing No.RJ 19 GB 7521 with escort with escort vehicle i.e, Maruthi Ertiga car bearing No. TS 08 JJ 5985 from Visakhapatnam agency area to Rajasthan which were purchased by A.5 and A.6 from unknown producers. A.1 toA.4 were arrested under a Mediator’s Report dated 21.02.2023 and also seized

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three mobile phones, lorry and the Martuhi Ertiga and Ganja. Basing on the mediator’s report, a case in Crime No.54 of 2023 of Bommuru Police Station, East Godavari was registered against A.1 to A.6. The Petitioner herein is arrayed as Accused No.3.

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Heard Sri Mangena Sreerama Rao, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Sri K.Sandeep, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor for respondent State. Perused the material on record.

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Learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that the entire allegations levelled against the Petitioner/A.3 are false, baseless and invented. Learned counsel would further submit that no Ganja was seized from the possession of the Petitioner and that the Petitioner was arrested on 05.06.2025 in this crime and since then, he was in judicial custody. Learned counsel would further submit that the Petitioner filed Crl.M.P.Bail No.737 of 2025, which was dismissed by order dated 11.07.2025 by the Learned Special Judge for Trial of the Cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act, 1985-cum-I Additional Sessions Judge, East Godavari District, Rajamahendravaram. Learned counsel would further submit that the Petitioner is shown as A.3 in Crime No.9 of 2025 on the file of I Town Police Station, NTR District, which is registered for the offence under Sections 20(b)(ii)(c) and 25 read with 8(c) of the NDPS Act and the Petitioner herein moved a bail petition vide Crl.P.No.7943 of 2025, wherein a Coordinate Bench of this Court vide Order dated 23.09.2025 granted bail to the Petitioner herein with some conditions. Learned counsel prays that the petitioner may be released on bail by imposing conditions to the satisfaction of the Court.

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On the other hand, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on instructions would submit that it is a case of illegal possession and transportation of ganja of 337.460 kgs, from the accused in the subject crime, wherein this petitioner is shown as A.3. The ganja seized from the accused is a commercial quantity. Further, the petitioner is also involved in another similar crime which is registered in I Town Police Station,

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Vijayawada and in that crime he was produced in PT warrant, which shows that the petitioner is a habitual offender. Investigation is under progress and at this stage, it

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is a fit case to grant bail to the petitioner.

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Considering the submissions made, and as rightly put by learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, the seized ganja is a commercial quantity and that the petitioner herein also involved in a similar offence under the NDPS Act. As stated, investigation is under progress. There is no incriminating material to release the Petitioner on bail and in the circumstances, the petitioner does not deserve for release bail and the

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Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed.

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Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is dismissed.

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Pending applications, if any, shall stands closed.

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Dr.JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

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27.02.2026 Mjl/*

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