- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:18426 CRL.P No. 7556 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF MAY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ CRIMINAL PETITION NO.7556 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. ANASUYA BAI W/O VITHAL RAO JAGATAP, AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS, R/AT MULLURU POST, GAVADAGERE HOBALI, HUNSUR TALUK, MYSORE-571610 2. MR. SATHYANARAYANA RAO S/O VITHAL RAO JAGATAP, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, R/AT MULLURU POST, GAVADAGERE HOBALI, HUNSUR TALUK, MYSORE-571610 …PETITIONERS (BY SMT. ABHINAYA.K, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BILIKERE POLICE STATION MYSORE, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT COMPLEX-560001 …RESPONDENT (BY SMT.N.ANITHA GIRISH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC PRAYING TO GRANT THEM THE RELIEF OF ANTICIPATORY BAIL WITH A DIRECTION TO THE SHO OF THE BILIKERE P.S. MYSURU TO RELEASE THEM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:18426 CRL.P No. 7556 of 2025 ARREST AFTER TAKING SUFFICIENT SURETY/ SURETIES IN CR.NO.149/2025 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 132,352,351(2),351(3),54,3(5) OF BNS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The Petitioners are before this Court seeking for following reliefs: “WHEREFORE, the petitioners most humbly pray this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to grant them the relief of anticipatory bail with a direction to the SHO of the Bilikere Police Station, Mysuru to release them on bail in the event of their arrest, after taking sufficient surety/sureties in Crime no.149/2025 for the offences punishable under Section 132, 352, 351(2), 351(3), 54, 3(5) of BNS, in the interest of justice, and pass any other order that this Hon’ble Court deems fit in the interest of justice.” 2. Panchayat Development Officer (hereinafter ‘PDO’ for short) had lodged a complaint in pursuance of Crime No.149/2025 which was registered by Bilikere Police Station. 3. The allegation made against the petitioners is that they were obstructing the discharge of the official duty by the said PDO. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:18426 CRL.P No. 7556 of 2025 4. Petitioners contend that petitioners had brought to the notice of certain illegalities committed by the PDO and as a counterblast to the said allegations made against the said PDO, the complaint has been filed. 5. The aspect of whether the petitioners have interfered with the discharge of the official duty and or whether the PDO has indulged herself in illegal activities, would be ascertained during the course of investigation. 6. Taking note of the above submissions of learned counsel for the petitioners that the petitioners will cooperate with the investigation and most of the allegations may not require any custodial interrogation, I pass the following: ORDER i) Petition is allowed. ii) The petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.149/2025 for the offences punishable under Section 132, 352, 351(2), 351(3), 54, 3(5) of BNS, 2023 on the following conditions: i) The petitioners shall appear and surrender before the VIII Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mysuru sitting at Hunsur within ten days from the date of receipt of the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:18426 CRL.P No. 7556 of 2025 certified copy of this order and shall furnish a personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- each with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the said court. ii) The petitioners shall appear before the Trial Court regularly on the appointed dates. iii) The petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or cause any threat to any of the prosecution witness/s in any manner. iv) The Petitioners shall co-operate with the completion of the investigation as expeditiously as possible. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE KAV List No.: 3 Sl No.: 5