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

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/A1 on bail in connection with the Cr.No.453 of 2025 on the file of Kancharapalem Police Station, Visakhapatnam District, registered against the petitioner/A1 herein for the offence punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(A), 22(b) read with 8(c), 25 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity 'the NDPS Act').

2. The case of the prosecution in nutshell is that on 20.12.2025, at about 13:00 hours, Kancharapalem Police Station, Visakhapatnam received reliable information from Sri G. Harish, S.I. of Police, CTF, regarding the transportation of ganja. Immediately, the Police secured the presence of mediators through the Tahsildar, Gopalapatnam and during the vehicle checking, they intercepted the motorcycle bearing registration No. AP 39 HG 1070 and found the Accused Nos.1 & 2 were in possession of 13 grams of hybrid ganja balls and 6 grams of MDMA crystal powder. The Police apprehended the accused Nos.1 & 2, and they were produced before the Magistrate concerned and thereafter, they were remanded to judicial custody by an order dated 20.12.2025.

3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record.

4. It is the case of the petitioner/A1 that he did not commit any offence as alleged by the Police and he has been falsely implicated in the said crime. Learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that the alleged quantity seized from the petitioner is not a commercial quantity and therefore, he is entitled to be released on bail.

5. He would further submit that if any conditions are imposed, the petitioner would abide by the same.

6. On the other hand, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application stating that if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, it is difficult to secure his presence.

7. Having heard the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side, by taking into consideration of the fact that the contraband seized from the petitioner is not a commercial quantity, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail.

8. In the result, the criminal petition is allowed with the following conditions:-

(i) The petitioner shall be enlarged on bail on executing bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/-(Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with two sureties for like sum each, to the satisfaction of learned Metropolitan Sessions Judge-cum-I Additional District and Sessions Judge at Visakhapatnam.

(ii) The petitioner shall appear before the Station House Officer, Kancharapalem Police Station, Visakhapatnam Commissionerate District, on every Saturday between 10.00 a.m. to 05.00 p.m., till filing of the charge sheet.

(iii) The petitioner shall not leave the limits of the District without obtaining prior permission from the learned Metropolitan Sessions Judge-cum-I Additional District and Sessions Judge at Visakhapatnam.

As a sequel, pending applications, if any, shall stand

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