Tharapareddy Manikumar 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.8503 of 2026 DATE: 29.06.2026 BETWEEN:

Tharapareddy Manikumar .....petitioner/accused No.2 And The State of Telangana, Rep. by Public Prosecutor, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad.

.....Respondent/complainant

ORDER

This Criminal Petition is filed praying this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail who is arrayed as accused No.2 in Crime No.87 of 2026 before the Khanapur Haveli Police Station, Khammam District, registered for the offence

punishable under Sections 8c read with 20(b)(ii)(B), 27(b) of NDPS Act.

2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 19.02.2026, acting on credible information, the Sub-Inspector of Police, Khanapuram Haveli Police Station, along with his police party, conducted a raid on the third floor of Srinivasa Residency, Srinivas Nagar, Ballepalli. During the raid, Accused Nos.1, 4, 5 and one Juvenile in Conflict with Law were found in possession of 7 kg of dry ganja, which was seized under a panchanama. During interrogation, the apprehended accused allegedly confessed that they had procured the contraband from Accused No.3 and had assembled at the rented house of Accused No.2. Based on the seizure and the alleged confession, Crime No.87 of 2026 was registered for the offences punishable under Sections 8 read with 20(b), 9(ii)(B) and 27(b) of the NDPS Act.

3.

Heard Sri J.P. Srikanth, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated and is in no way connected with the alleged offence and that no contraband was recovered from the petitioner and his implication is solely based on the confession of the co-accused, which has no evidentiary value. He further argued that the mandatory provisions of the NDPS Act were not followed, the petitioner was arrested belatedly through a P.T. warrant while in judicial custody in another case, and the investigation has been substantially completed except for receipt of the FSL report. Therefore, he prayed the Court to grant bail to the petitioner by allowing this Criminal Petition.

5.

On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner stating that the investigation disclosed the involvement of the petitioner in the illegal procurement and storage of ganja along with the other accused. He submitted that the contraband was recovered pursuant to the police raid and that the material collected during the investigation prima facie connects the petitioner with the commission of the offences under the NDPS Act. At this stage, granting of bail to

the petitioner does not arise. Therefore, he prayed the Court to dismiss the criminal petition.

6.

In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and a perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the petitioner is in jail since 16.05.2026. As seen from the record, the material part of the investigation has been completed and L.Ws.1 to 11 witnesses have been examined.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the incarceration period of the petitioner, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions: i.

The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) each, with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the II Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Khammam.

ii.

The petitioner shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11:00 a.m., on every Monday for a period of eight (8)

week or till filing of charge sheet whichever is earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.

iii.

The petitioner shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437(3) of Cr.P.C.(presently, Section 480(3) of the BNSS).

7.

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

_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 29.06.2026 SAI

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.8503 of 2026 Date: 29.06.2026 SAI