- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25561 CRL.P No. 9308 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 9308 OF 2025 BETWEEN: MR. MANJUNATH M S/O LATE. MUNIRAMAIAH AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS NO.42, BYRESHWARA NILAYA 3DMAIN ROAD, 1ST D CROSS MATHIKERE, BANGALORE - 560 054. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SUBASH REDDY V, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BUILDING, BY YESHWANTHPURA POLICE STATION BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.0165/2025, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S. 108 OF BNS, 2023 AND DIRECT THE YESHWARNTHPUR POLICE STATION TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST AND IN CRL. MISC.NO.4455/2025 ON THE FILE OF THE VII ADDL. CJM, BENGALURU CITY. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25561 CRL.P No. 9308 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.165/2025 registered by Yeshwanthapura Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Section 108 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.165/2025 was registered by Yeshwanthapura Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the aforesaid offence against petitioner herein based on the first information dated 20.05.2025 received from Chetan Kumar, who is the son of deceased Hemanth Kumar. Apprehending arrest in the case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.4455/2025 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 12.06.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25561 CRL.P No. 9308 of 2025 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that deceased was residing in a rented premises of which petitioner is the owner. Allegation in the first information as against the petitioner is that petitioner was demanding arrears of rent from the deceased and therefore, deceased had committed suicide. Such an allegation cannot be construed as an instigation or abetment for the deceased to commit suicide and therefore, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order:- 5. The 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.165/2025 registered by Yeshwanthapura Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Section 108 of 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. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25561 CRL.P No. 9308 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 witnesses 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 DN