LINGU KHILA Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Petition, under Ss. 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed by the petitioners/A.1, seeking regular bail, in Crime No.21 of 2024 of G.K. Veedhi Police Station, Visakhapatnam District.

(2.) A case has been registered against the petitioner and other accused for the offences punishable under Ss. 20(b)(ii)(C) r/w. Ss. 8(c) and 25 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

(3.) The case of the prosecution is that on 3/7/2024, at 21:30 hours, based on credible information regarding the illegal transportation of ganja, the Sub-Inspector of Police, along with his team, was conducting vehicle checks. During this operation, two vehicles a Bolero Pickup bearing registration number AP 39 TC 3354 and an Ashok Leyland Bada Dost Mini Van with registration AP 39 TY 2907 were observed traveling from Sileru towards GK Veedhi Village. The Sub-Inspector of Police trying to stop these vehicles, on noticing the police, the accused attempted to evade capture by turning their vehicles and fleeing the scene. However, the Sub-Inspector of Police apprehended five individuals. Subsequent search of the vehicles led to the discovery of 24 gunny bags containing a total of 759.25 Kgs of ganja. The Sub-Inspector thereafter seized the contraband, the two vehicles involved, four android mobile phones, and one keypad mobile phone from the accused, all under the cover of the mediators' report. Upon interrogation, accused A2 disclosed that the ganja had been purchased from the petitioner/A1. Based on the mediators' report, the present case has been registered against the petitioner and the other accused.