Santhosh Madhukar Chavan 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. 15408 of 2025 DATE: 02.12.2025 Between:

Santhosh Madhukar Chavan .... Petitioner/Accused No.1 AND The State of Telangana, through S.H.O., Patancheru Police Station, Cyberabad Commissionerate, Ranga Reddy District, Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court, Hyderabad .... Respondent/Complainant

O R D E R

Seeking the Court to enlarge the petitioner who arrayed as accused No.1 in Crime No.964 of 2025, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short 'NDPS Act'), on bail, the present Criminal Petition is filed. 2.

The brief facts of the case are that on 24.10.2025, on reliable information, the police conducted an inspection and found accused

Nos.1 and 2 in possession of 10 kilograms of ganja. Basing on the same, a criminal case was registered against the petitioner for the alleged offences.

3.

Heard Sri R Thirupathi, 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 is innocent of the said allegations and the seized contraband i.e., 10 Kgs of ganja, constitutes an intermediate quantity. He further submitted that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 24.10.2025 and that all the material witnesses have been examined and further detention of the petitioner is unwarranted. 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, contending that although the seized contraband falls under the category of intermediate quantity, the investigation is still ongoing and has not yet been completed. Therefore, granting bail to the petitioner, at this stage, does not arise. However, he informed the Court that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents.

6.

Considering the submissions of both learned counsel and upon perusal of the material available on record, it is observed that the seized contraband i.e.,10 Kgs of ganja falls under the category of intermediate quantity and the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 24.10.2025, and a substantial portion of the investigation has already been completed. In view of these circumstances, 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), with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate, (Prohibitions & Excise) at Sanga Reddy.

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: 02.12.2025 SS

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.15408 of 2025 Date: 02.12.2025 SS