- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21195 CRL.P No. 7772 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 7772 OF 2025 BETWEEN: SRI. RANGANATHA P.S, S/O SHIVANNA, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, OCCU: AGRICULTURIST, R/AT PALLAVAGERE VILLAGE, HIRIYUR TALUK, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT - 577 598. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHIVAMURTHY K.H, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY HIRYUR TOWN POLICE STATION, HIRIYUR - 577 598, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. ASMA KOUSER, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT POLICE IN CRIME NO.184/2024 CC NO.77/2025 OF HIRIYUR TOWN Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21195 CRL.P No. 7772 of 2025 POLICE STATION, FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 80, 85, 3(5) OF BNS R/W SECTION 3 AND 4 OF DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC AT HIRIYUR BY ALLOWING THIS PETITION. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused No.1 in Crime No.184/2024 registered by Hiriyur Town Police Station, Chitradurga for offences punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and Sections 3(5), 80 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, is before this Court under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.184/2024 is registered by Hiriyur Town Police Station, Chitradurga, for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner and others based on the first information - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21195 CRL.P No. 7772 of 2025 dated 17.07.2024 received from one Lakshmipathi - father of deceased Kavya who was aged about 25 years. Apprehending arrest in the case, the petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.341/2025 before the Court of 1st Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chitradurga, which was rejected on 05.04.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that investigation of the case is completed and charge sheet is also filed. The FIR was filed initially against six persons. Marriage of the petitioner with the deceased was a love marriage which was against the wish of her parents. Therefore, criminal complaint was filed by the parents of Kavya. Accordingly, the petitioner prays to allow the petition. 6. Per contra, the learned HCGP who has opposed the bail petition, however does not dispute the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21195 CRL.P No. 7772 of 2025 7. Perusal of the material on record goes to show that the petitioner and the deceased Kavya got married on 19.05.2024 against the wishes of her parents and therefore a criminal case was registered by the parents of the deceased Kavya. Petitioner and deceased Kavya who had appeared before the Police station, had informed the police that after attaining age of majority they were in love with each other and thereafter they got married. Kavya committed suicide by hanging herself to a fan in their house on 14.07.2024. The first information was belatedly filed on 17.07.2024 by the father of the deceased alleging that his daughter was ill-treated by her husband and his family members. Investigation in the case is completed and charge sheet is filed against the petitioner, who is the husband of deceased Kavya. Considering the fact that the marriage of the petitioner with deceased Kavya was a love marriage which against the wishes of her parents and the parents of deceased Kavya also had filed a criminal case against the petitioner, allegations made becomes doubtful. Investigation in the case is already completed and charge sheet is also filed. The petitioner has no criminal antecedents. He has undertaken to appear before the Trial Court regularly. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21195 CRL.P No. 7772 of 2025 8. Under these circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively reserving liberty to the Investigation Officer to take the petitioner into custody for purpose of interrogation by filing necessary application before the Trial Court, in the event it is absolutely necessary. Accordingly, the following order:- 9. The Criminal Petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.184/2025 registered by Hiriyur Police Station, Chitradurga for the offences punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and Sections 3(5), 80 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21195 CRL.P No. 7772 of 2025 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future; Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SNC List No.: 2 Sl No.: 8 CT: BHK