- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25354 CRL.P No. 8208 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8208 OF 2025 BETWEEN: SRI NAVEENA C S/O CHIKKANANJAIAH AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS KAPANIGOWDANANDODDI VILLAGE UYYAMBALLI HOBLI KANAKAPURA TALUK RAMANAGARA DISTRICT KARNATAKA - 562 117. …PETITIONER (BY SRI NATARAJ D, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KANAKAPURA TOWN POLICE STATION, KANAKAPURA RAMANAGARA DIST REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OFF. AT HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN RELATION TO FIR REGISTERED WITH CR.NO.91/2024 FOR THE O/P/U/S 406,420 OF THE IPC FILED BEFORE THE KANAKAPURA TOWN P.S PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, KANAKAPURA, RAMANAGARA DIST. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25354 CRL.P No. 8208 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused No.1 in Crime No.91/2024 registered by Kanakapura Town Police Station, Ramanagara District for the offences punishable under Sections 406 & 420 of IPC is before this Court seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.91/2024 was registered by Kanakapura Town Police Station, Ramanagara District for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein and two others, on the basis of first information dated 21.06.2024 received from Sri Sagar D, Manager of the Suryodaya Small Finance Bank Limited. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.5077/2025, which was rejected on 20.03.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25354 CRL.P No. 8208 of 2025 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that accused No.2 as against whom similar allegations are found has been granted regular bail by this Court. The petitioner has no criminal antecedents and 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 HCGP has opposed the bail petition. 6. The first informant in the present case is the Manager of the Suryodaya Small Finance Bank Limited and the petitioner is working as credit officer in the said bank along with accused No.1. The allegation against accused No.1 is that from the year 28.08.2023 to 30.05.2024, he had misappropriated the amount in the bank. Accused No.2 as against whom similar allegation is found in the FIR has been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.8100/2024. The allegation as against accused is - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25354 CRL.P No. 8208 of 2025 based on documentary evidence available with the bank and therefore there cannot any apprehension that the petitioner may tamper with said evidence. 7. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that on the ground of parity, the petitioner's prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is required to be answered affirmatively 8. Accordingly, the following: ORDER 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.91/2024 registered by Kanakapura Town Police Station, Ramanagara District for the offences punishable under Sections 406 & 420 of IPC, subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within fifteen days from the date of this order - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25354 CRL.P No. 8208 of 2025 on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. The 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 NMS