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by sayum
21 May 2026 3:43 PM
“Gravity of the offence, coupled with the formidable criminal record of Accused No. 1, renders him undeserving of bail at this stage” – High Court of Andhra Pradesh delivered a split ruling on bail in a sensational gold theft case involving allegations of a deliberate attack on police personnel and attempted escape. While bail was rejected for Accused No. 1, a known habitual offender with 81 adverse antecedents, the Court found it appropriate to grant conditional bail to Accused No. 2, considering his comparatively lesser role and prolonged judicial custody.
The case, rooted in Crime No. 72 of 2025 of Chapadu Police Station, YSR Kadapa District, unfolded after the accused were intercepted by the police while allegedly escaping with stolen gold. In an attempt to evade arrest, they reportedly used a Swift car to ram a police vehicle, causing significant damage and endangering lives.
Justice Y. Lakshmana Rao, presiding over the matter, framed the issue succinctly:
“The petitioner–accused No. 1, with 81 adverse antecedents to his name, cannot claim bail as a matter of right when his conduct reflects a pattern of defiance against law enforcement itself.”
“Bail Is Not Meant to Sanction Criminal Continuity” – Court Emphasizes That Past Conduct Must Weigh Heavily in Bail Considerations
Denying bail to Accused No. 1, the Court relied not merely on the seriousness of the offence but on his entrenched criminal history, declaring that:
“Where the allegations point to not just theft but a brazen attack on the police during the escape, granting bail would be an abdication of judicial responsibility.”
The Court noted that the offences involved are punishable under Sections 109(1) and 132 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, indicating a blend of organised crime and institutional threat.
The learned Public Prosecutor opposed bail, arguing that if released, the accused was likely to abscond, intimidate witnesses, or obstruct investigation—concerns the Court found both plausible and substantiated by his record.
“Custody Alone Cannot Justify Incarceration Where Involvement Is Peripheral” – Bail Granted to Accused No. 2 with Stringent Conditions
In contrast, the Court distinguished the position of Accused No. 2, a relative and alleged accomplice, observing that he had been in judicial custody for over 61 days, with no independent criminal antecedents brought on record.
“In view of the nature of allegations and the period of detention undergone, this Court is inclined to enlarge petitioner-accused No. 2 on bail,” the Court said.
However, the Court was careful to balance liberty with procedural integrity, imposing strict conditions such as mandatory weekly appearances, travel restrictions, prohibition on witness tampering, and full cooperation with the investigation.
This approach reflects the Court’s adherence to the principle of individualized justice, where mere association with a principal accused does not justify indefinite incarceration in the absence of specific incriminating material.
“Bail Is Not a Concession, It Is a Judicial Calibration Between Liberty and Law” – High Court’s Dual Ruling Reinforces the Constitutional Scheme of Discretionary Bail Jurisprudence
While criminal courts are often called upon to balance competing interests of individual liberty and public interest, this judgment offers a clear exposition of how judicial discretion must be guided by criminal history, role in offence, potential for interference, and stage of investigation.
The judgment implicitly reaffirms the principle that equality before the law does not mean identical outcomes, especially in joint trials involving distinct levels of culpability.
“Criminal petition is partly allowed,” Justice Lakshmana Rao concluded, denying bail to Accused No. 1 but allowing it for Accused No. 2, with liberty to the State to seek cancellation in case of non-compliance.
Date of Decision: 08 September 2025
