- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:5380 CRL.P No. 241 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 241 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SMT. VINUTHA V., W/O MANJUNATHA N S AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS R/AT NO-31, ACHYUTHA NILAYA, 1ST CROSS, SAVERA LAYOUT, VAAJARAHALLI, NELAMANGALA TALUK, BANGALORE 562 123 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. UMASHANKAR M.N., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH C C B POLICE, BANGALORE CITY, REP. BY S.P.P. HIGH COURT BUILDING, AMABEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE 560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY MS. ASMA KOUSER, ADDL.SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT THE RELIEF OF ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE ABOVE NAMED PETITIONER / ACCUSED NO.1 IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT CCB POLICE Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:5380 CRL.P No. 241 of 2025 BENGALURU IN CR.NO.34/2024 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/U/S 669E) OF I.T ACT AND SEC.308(2),308(5),351(2),351(3),352,61(1) OF THE BNS PENDING BEFORE THE I ADDL.C.M.M COURT BENGALURU CITY BENGALURU THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel for petitioner, learned Additional SPP for the State and perused the material on record. 2. FIR in Crime No.34/2024 is registered by the CCB, City Police, Bengaluru against the petitioner for offences punishable under Section - 66(E) of the Information Technology Act and Section - 308 (2), 308(5), 351(2), 351(3), 352 and 61(1) of the BNS 2023. 3. In the complaint lodged by one Mahadeva Swamy. S, Police Inspector, CCB Bengaluru City, he has - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:5380 CRL.P No. 241 of 2025 alleged that the petitioner sent a friend request through face book and he accepted it and she continued to send him messages for two and half months and obtained his personal details. Thereafter, she forced him to meet her during which time she took their photos and videos and started blackmailing him and on various occasions extorted cash in all a sum of Rs.7,43,948/- and again started demanding money. It is alleged that by keeping the photos and videos of the complainant, petitioner has been blackmailing him. 4. Learned Addl.SPP has contended that, the investigation has revealed that the petitioner with similar modus operandi has black mailed others and if anticipatory bail is granted to the petitioner, she may not cooperate with the investigation and she will repeat such acts. 5. The learned counsel for the petitioner has annexed the copies of the WhatsApp chat between the petitioner and the complainant. He contended that the complainant himself has forced the petitioner to have a - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:5380 CRL.P No. 241 of 2025 relationship with him and the allegation that huge amount has been extorted by the petitioner by way of cash etc., is utterly false. It is contended that as per complaint averments, two and half months before lodging the complaint, petitioner contacted the complainant through face book, whereas the WhatsApp chats between the two, would show that they have been in contact much prior to lodging of the complaint. He therefore contended that the entire allegations are false. He has submitted that the petitioner is having a seven year old school going child and therefore if she is arrested, she will be put to great hardship and humiliation. 6. Having perused the complaint averments and the material on record, I find that the complainant after accepting the friend request, started contacting the petitioner and met her on several occasions. The allegations that the petitioner has extorted money from him and blackmailed him is a matter to be established in due course. The petitioner is a woman. She has - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:5380 CRL.P No. 241 of 2025 undertaken to cooperate with the investigation of the case. Hence, by imposing suitable conditions, the relief sought by the petitioner can be granted. ORDER Petition is allowed. Petitioner/accused in Crime No.34/2024, registered by CCB, City Police, shall be released in the event of her arrest, subject to following conditions: a) She shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with a surety for the likesum. b) She shall furnish her residential address/contact number and shall inform the I.O. in case of any change in the address/contact number. c) She shall co-operate with the investigation of the case. - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:5380 CRL.P No. 241 of 2025 d) She shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence/witnesses either directly or indirectly. e) She shall be regular in attending the Court proceedings. f) If any of the above bail conditions are violated, prosecution is at liberty to move for cancellation of the bail. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE JJ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26 CT:SNN