Ponala Siddarth, v. The State Of Telangana

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT

HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.6080 of 2026 DATE: 23.04.2026 Between:

Ponala Siddarth S/o Sai Kumar.

.... Petitioner/ Accused No.1 AND The State of Telangana, Rep.by Public Prosecutor, High Court at Hyderabad.

.... Respondent

O R D E R

This Criminal Petition is filed under Sections 480 & 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') by the petitioner/Accused No.1 seeking to enlarge him on bail in connection with Crime No.149 of 2026 of Mokila Police Station, Chevella Division, Future City. The offence alleged against the petitioner is punishable under Section 8 (C) read with 22 (b), 20 (b)(ii)(A) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

2.

The case of the prosecution is that on 29.03.2026 a complaint received from S.I. of police, Mokila, in which he

- 2 - stated that while he was on duty, he received a credible information that three individuals were illegally transporting a prohibited narcotic drug of Cocaine in a Car. On search, the petitioner is in possession of 39.72 grams and 2.36 grams of ganja. The same was seized and reported the same to the higher authorities concerned and registered a case for the aforesaid offence.

3.

Heard Sri G.Santosh Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner/Accused No.1 and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, appearing for the respondent-State.

4.

The contention of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner is innocent of the offence alleged against him; that the petitioner has been in judicial custody from 29.03.2026;

that material part of the investigation is completed; that the contraband seized from the possession of the petitioner is an intermediate quantity and as such requested the Court to grant regular bail to the petitioner.

5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the same and submits that the petitioner

- 3 - is a Government employee and being a responsible person he indulged in illegal possession of contraband, as such he is not entitled for grant of bail at this stage as investigation is not yet completed and hence, he prays to dismiss the bail. 6.

Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for both parties and perusal of the material on record, the petitioner has been in judicial custody from 29.03.2026 and seized contraband is only an intermediate quantity. Taking into consideration the period of incarceration of the petitioner in judicial custody and considering the fact that the no other cases are pending against the petitioner, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioner/Accused No.1 subject to the following conditions:

(i) The petitioner-accused No.1 shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Chevella, Ranga Reddy District.

(ii) On such release, the petitioner-accused No.1 shall appear before the concerned S.H.O. between 09:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m., on every Wednesday for a period of eight (8) weeks or till filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

- 4 - (iii) The petitioner-accused No.1 shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437 (3) of Cr.P.C. (presently, Section 480 (3) of BNSS).

7.

Accordingly, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed.

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 23.04.2026 YVL