- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:10224 CRL.P No. 2308 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2308 OF 2025 BETWEEN: NAVEEN P G S/O GOPALAKRISHNASHETTY AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS R/AT OO BADA ROAD NEARSRI VEERABHADRASWAMY TEMPLE, KANDAGAL VTC KANDAGAL PO KANDAGAL, SUBDISTRICT DAVANAGERE DISTRICT, DAVANAGERE - 577 514. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SHREERAJ S, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HADADI POLICE STATION REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. N. ANITHA GIRISH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION AND GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL FROM THE RESPONDENT POLICE IN CONNECTION IN CR.NO.7/2025 REGISTERED BY THE HADADI P.S. FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 336(2),337,336(3) OF THE BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF III ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C COURT DAVANAGERE. 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:10224 CRL.P No. 2308 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.7/2025 registered by Hadadi Police Station, Davanagere District, for the offences punishable under Sections 336(2), 337, 336(3) 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.7/2025 was registered by Hadadi Police Station, Davanagere District, against the petitioner herein for the aforesaid offences based on the first information dated 17.01.2025 received from H.B.Halesh, Deputy Tahsildar of Mayakonda Taluk. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl. Misc. No.105/2025 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 12.02.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Learned Counsel for the petitioner having reiterated the grounds urged in the petition, submits that petitioner has no criminal antecedents. There is no material to show that it was the petitioner who had printed the fraudulent documents and distributed the same to the alleged victims. The victims have - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:10224 CRL.P No. 2308 of 2025 not made any complaints and it is only the Deputy Tahsildar who has filed the complaint. Petitioner is ready and willing to cooperate with the police. Accordingly, he prays to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP who has opposed the petition, submits that during the course of investigation, the statement of the victims has been recorded and all the victims have categorically stated that petitioner had made demand for payment of money for issuance of documents and after receiving money from the victims, he had issued the fraudulent documents. 6. The material on record would go to show that the petitioner was working as a seva sindhu operator at Mayakonda in Davanagere Taluk and during the course of inspection, the first informant found that Sandhya Suraksha grant orders issued for the period from 15.07.2024 to 24.12.2024 to the eligible candidates were all duplicate documents. On inquiry, the first informant was informed by the allottees that petitioner had issued the said allotment orders to them after collecting money. It is under these circumstances, the Deputy Tahsildar - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:10224 CRL.P No. 2308 of 2025 had approached the police on 17.01.2025 and submitted his report, based on which, FIR in Crime No.7/2025 was registered. 7. During the course of investigation, the Investigation Officer has recorded the statement of the alleged victims and the said victims have clearly stated that when they approached the petitioner, he had demanded money from them and on payment of the said money, he had issued the documents which were subsequently found to be fraudulent and duplicate documents. They have stated that subsequently when they tried to contact the petitioner, it was found that he had locked the computer centre and was absconding. 8. Petitioner, who was holding a responsible post, has committed fraud and has cheated gullible villagers by issuing duplicate and fraudulent documents after collecting money from them. It appears that he has issued grant orders, caste certificates, etc., to the victims after collecting money which are now found to be fraudulent. 9. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, custodial interrogation of the petitioner would be necessary so as to unearth the involvement of other accused in the case and also - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:10224 CRL.P No. 2308 of 2025 to find out about the other victims, if any. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that this is not a fit case wherein the discretionary relief of anticipatory bail needs to be extended. Accordingly, petition is dismissed. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK