Andhra Pradesh High Court – Amravati
Praveen Raj Purohit vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh on 16 April, 2026
APHC010180342026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
AT AMARAVATI [3396]
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
THURSDAY,THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF APRIL
TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2618/2026
Between:
1. PRAVEEN RAJ PUROHIT,, S/O. MOHANSINGH RAJ PUROHIT,
AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, MALE, R/O. 11-46-15, PALLE STREET, I
TOWN, VIJAYAWADA-520 001.
...PETITIONER/ACCUSED
AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep by its Public Prosecutor,
High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati.
...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT
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
Counsel for the Petitioner/accused:
1. MANGENA SREE RAMA RAO
Counsel for the Respondent/complainant:
1. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
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THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 2618 of 2026
ORDER:
This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the BNSS, has
been filed by the Petitioner herein/Accused No.3, seeking regular bail, in
Crime No.54 of 2023 of Bommuru Police Station, registered for the offences
punishable under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C) of Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act (for short “NDPS Act“).
2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that, on 21-02-2023 at about
9.45 A.M., on reliable information about the transportation of ganja, the Sub-
Inspector of Police, Bommuru PS along with his staff and mediators
apprehended Accused Nos.1 and 2 at N.H.16 road junction, Diwancheruvu
Village, Rajanagaram Mandal, who were found transporting 337.460 kgs of
Ganja in 15 gunny bags. During the course of investigation, the Accused No.3
was produced in this crime on execution of P.T. Warrant on 17.06.2025, since
then, he has been in judicial custody.
3. Heard Sri Mangena Sree Rama Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner
and Mrs.K.Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor
representing on behalf of the State.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has
been falsely implicated in this crime and that he is in no way connected with
the commission of the offence. The petitioner has been in judicial custody
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since 17.06.2025. He would further submit that the petitioner has been
arrayed as accused basing on the confession statement of the co-accused. It
is further submitted that the statutory period is over. Investigation is also
completed and charge sheet is also filed. It is numbered as NSC No.406 of
2025. No contraband was seized from the possession of the petitioner. He
would further submit that Accused Nos.1 and 2, from whose possession the
contraband was seized were released on bail. Learned counsel further
submits that the petitioners undertake to strictly adhere to any conditions that
may be imposed by this Court.
5. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State vehemently
opposed the petition and contended that the contraband involved in the
present case is 337.460 Kgs of Ganja, which is a huge commercial quantity.
Investigation is completed and charge sheet is also filed. She would further
submit that Accused Nos.1 and 2 were released on default bail. She finally
submits that the Court may pass appropriate orders.
6. Considering the submissions and upon keen perusal of the material
placed on record and in the light of the facts and circumstances of the case,
that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 17.06.2025, the fact that
the petitioner was arrayed as accused No.3 basing on the confession of the
co-accused, that after completion of investigation, charge sheet is also filed
and that except confession statement, nothing is unearthed against the
petitioner, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner/accused No.3 on bail
with the following conditions;
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i. The petitioner/accused No.3, shall execute personal bond for a sum of
Rs. 20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) each with two sureties
for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the learned I Additional
Sessions Judge, Rajamahendravaram.
ii. The petitioner/accused No.3, shall appear before the Investigating
Officer as and when required and shall cooperate with further
investigation, if any.
iii. The petitioner/accused No.3, shall not directly or indirectly tamper with
evidence nor influence, intimidate, or induce any prosecution witness.
iv. The petitioner/accused No.3, shall appear before the Station House
Officer, concerned, once in a week i.e., on every Saturday between
10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. until further orders.
v. The petitioner/accused No.3, shall not commit or indulge in
commission of any offence in future.
vi. The petitioner/accused No.3, shall surrender his passport, if any, to
the concerned Court. If he claims that he does not have a passport, he
shall submit an affidavit to that effect to the concerned Court.
7. In the event of violation of any of the above conditions, the prosecution
shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail.
8. It is also made clear that the observations made in this order are only for
the purpose of deciding the bail application and they shall not be construed as
opinion on the merits of the Crime.
9. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is allowed.
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As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in
this Criminal Petition shall stand closed.
__________________________________________
DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA
Date: 16.04.2026.
UPS
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152
THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 2618/2026
Dt.16.04.2026
UPS
