AMARAVATI, India, Feb. 17 -- Andhra Pradesh High Court issued the following order on Jan. 16:

1. Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483of theBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 1seeking to enlargethePetitioner/Accused No.1 on bail in Crime No.446 of 2025 of VisakhapatnamPolice Station, GRP Vijayawada, registered against the Petitioner/AccusedNo.1 herein for the offence punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) readwith8(c)of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 2 .

2. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learnedAssistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record.

3. As seen from the record, the allegations against the Petitioner/AccusedNo.1 are that he was allegedly indulged in dealing with possessionandtransportation of 5.5 Kgs of Ganja. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 was arrestedon 22.12.2025 and he has been in the judicial custody for 25 days. Theseizedcontraband is not a commercial quantity. The Petitioner/AccusedNo.1ispermanent residents of Ganajur (Post), Kolur District, Haveri, Karnataka. Hehas got a fixed abode. There are no adverse similar criminal antecedentsreported against the petitioner. So far, eight witnesses were examined. Substantial portion of the investigation was completed. Chancesof thepetitioner threatening the official witnesses, tempering the evidence and hampering the investigation may not arise. If the petitioner is enlargedonbail with certain stringent conditions, he may not evade fromthe clutches of law.

4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, gravity andnatureof the allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.1, this Court isinclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail. 5. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the followingstringent conditions:

i. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall be enlarged on bail subject to he executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with two sureties for the likesum each to the satisfaction of the learned VI Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class for Railways-cum-VI Additional Civil Judge, Visakhapatnam.

ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall appear before theStation House Officer concerned, on every Saturday inbetween 10:00 am and 05:00 pm, till cognizance is takenby the learned the Trial Court.

iii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permissionfrom the Station House Officer concerned.

iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future.

v. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as todissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer.

vi. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall surrender his passport, if any, to the investigating officer. If he claims that he does not have a passport, he shall submit affidavits to that effect to the Investigating Officer.

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