LAIJU Vs. STATE OF A.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Criminal Petition has been filed under Ss. 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity 'the BNSS'), seeking to enlarge the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 on bail in Crime No.362 of 2025 of Visakhapatnam Railway Police Station, Visakhapatnam District, registered against the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 herein for the offences punishable under Ss. 8 (c) read with 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity 'the NDPS Act').

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record.

(3.) As seen from the record, the allegation against the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 is that they were arrested on the spot while they were in possession and transportation of 10.00 kgs of ganja. The seized contraband is not a commercial quantity. So far, seven witnesses have been examined. They are all material and official witnesses. The chances of the petitioners threatening the witnesses and tampering with the evidence or hampering the investigation may not arise. A substantial portion of the investigation with regard to the alleged role played by the petitioners is completed. The petitioners were arrested on 8/10/2025. They have been in judicial custody for the past 92 days.