- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:14256 CRL.P No. 2397 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF APRIL, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2397 OF 2025 BETWEEN: VASU @ VEGESNA SRINIVASARAJU S/O VEGENSA NAGARAJU AGED ABOUT 38YEARS NO 1-61/1, NEAR RAAVI CETTU KALLA, JAKKARAM VTC WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH STATE - 534 206. …PETITIONER (BY SRI MAHON KUMAR B.M, ADV., FOR SRI KARIGOWDA HENCHINAMANE S, ADV.) AND: STATE BY WHITEFIELD POLICE REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. PUSHPALATHA B, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT HIM ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN RELATION TO CASE IN CR.NO.0882/2024 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT WHITEFIELD POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY , BENGALURU FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 318(4) AND 111 OF BNS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by NANDINI MS Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:14256 CRL.P No. 2397 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.8 in Crime No.882/2024 registered Whitefield Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4) & 111 of BNS, 2023, is before this Court under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.882/2024 was registered by Whitefield Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Section 318(4) of BNS, 2023, against unknown persons based on the first information dated 18.12.2024 received from Narayana Rao S/o Ranoji Rao. During the course of investigation, accused nos.1 to 7 were arrested and based on their statements, petitioner is arrayed as accused no.8 in the present case. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl. Misc. No.161/2025 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 13.02.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is not the beneficiary of the fraud and he has not received any - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:14256 CRL.P No. 2397 of 2025 amount in his account from the account of the first informant. Except the statement of the co-accused, there is nothing to connect the petitioner to the crime. Petitioner is a electrical contractor and has no criminal antecedents. He is ready and willing to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Accordingly, he prays to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, learned Addl. SPP has opposed the petition. She submits that petitioner had taken the premises on rent, from which accused nos.1 to 7 were arrested. Accused nos.1 to 7 have made statements against the petitioner and considering the same, his custodial interrogation becomes necessary. Accordingly, she prays to dismiss the petition. 6. The first informant had approached the police on 18.12.2024 complaining that on 17.12.2024 at about 1.00 p.m., a stranger had come near his shop and inquired with him whether the scanner in his shop was properly functioning. The said person had thereafter collected the mobile phone of the first informant and had called Paytm Customer Care and asked them to provide an alternative scanner to the first informant. Subsequently, the first informant came to know that a sum of - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:14256 CRL.P No. 2397 of 2025 Rs.85,000/- was transferred from his bank account, and therefore, he had approached the police. 7. During the course of investigation, on verification of the bank records, it was found that the amount from the account of the first informant was transferred to certain bank accounts and on verification of the CDR of the mobile phone number linked to the said bank accounts, investigation officer had visited the premises from which accused nos.1 to 7 were arrested. The investigation officer had seized 37 mobile phones, two laptops, one laptop charger, two mobile phone chargers from the said premises and it was also found that the mobile phones seized were connected to several bank accounts, receiving money from different bank accounts. During the course of interrogation, accused nos.1 to 7 have stated that on the guise of providing them employment, petitioner had asked them to work in the premises in question and they were working as per his instructions and money was being transferred to various accounts on his instructions. The Investigation Officer has collected material during the course of investigation, which prima facie, would go to show that the premises from which accused nos.1 to 7 were arrested - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:14256 CRL.P No. 2397 of 2025 belonged to one Lokendra Singh Deora and the same was taken on lease under rental agreement dated 01.06.2024 by the petitioner herein. Investigation Officer has expressed that chances of petitioner being involved in similar other crimes also cannot be ruled out. Petitioner hails from Andhra Pradesh State. He has taken the premises in question on rent in Bengaluru. 8. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter and the manner in which the cyber crime is committed which has become a menace to the society, I am of the opinion that petitioner's prayer for grant of anticipatory bail cannot be entertained. Accordingly, petition is dismissed. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK