- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:3713 CRL.P No. 14269 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14269 OF 2024 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SYED SALEEM AHMED S/O SYED KALEEM AHMED, AGE 34 YEARS, NO.223 , 7TH CROSS, GANGONDANAHALLI, LAWYER PALYA, BENGALURU-560039. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. GOPALSETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY JNANABHARATHI POLICE REPRESENTED BY: THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.277/2023 U/S.364-A OF IPC OF THE JNANABHARATHI POLICE STATION. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR COURT ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:3713 CRL.P No. 14269 of 2024 ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel for petitioner, Learned High Court Government Pleader for the State and perused the material on record. 2. FIR in Crime No.277/2023 of Jnanabharathi Police Station, Bengaluru City was registered against Five unknown persons, on a complaint lodged by one Sri. Sathish for an offence punishable under Section 364(A) of IPC. 3. In the complaint, it is alleged that on 17.08.2023, at about 07:00 p.m., complainant along with his friends Pramod and B. Lakshminarayana had been to Mysuru in Pramod's car bearing No.KL-70-G-5666 XUU 700 for a Pooja. While they were proceeding on Mysuru road, near Jnanabharathi Metro Station, in front of Anjaneya temple, unknown persons came in an Innova white colour car bearing No.KA-03-AE-0141 and waylaid their vehicle and saying that they are police, forcibly - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:3713 CRL.P No. 14269 of 2024 kidnapped his friend Lakshminarayana. The said persons then made phone calls demanding ransom to release Lakshminarayana from their custody etc. 4. FIR is registered again 5 unknown persons. The material on record reveal that on 18.08.2023, accused Nos.1 and 2 came to be arrested and their voluntary statements were recorded. Based on which other accused are also arrested. 5. Petitioner is arraigned as accused No.3. He was arrested on 02.12.2024. The learned Sessions Judge has rejected the bail petition on the ground that he has been absconding from the date of incident. 6. In this case, FIR is registered against 5 un-known persons. Allegations are that, accused have kidnapped one Lakshminarayan and then demanded ransom to release him. It appears that a complaint was lodged against the victim by accused No.5 alleging sexual - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:3713 CRL.P No. 14269 of 2024 harassment etc. In this background the victim is alleged to have been kidnapped by the accused persons. 7. Learned High Court Government Pleader has contended that there are criminal cases registered against the petitioner and he is a habitual offender and if he is released on bail, he may once again involve in committing similar offences. 8. In this case, accused Nos.1 and 2 are already enlarged on bail in Crl.Misc.No.8180/2023 on 07.09.2023. Further, accused No.5 has been released on anticipatory bail in Crl.Misc.No.8181/2023 on 07.09.2023. The name of the petitioner is not in the FIR. He had approached the Sessions Court seeking anticipatory bail. Hence, it cannot be said that the petitioner has been absconding. Since, accused Nos.1, 2 and 5 are already enlarged on bail, petitioner who is in judicial custody since 02.12.2024 can be admitted to bail by imposing suitable conditions. Accordingly, the following:- - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:3713 CRL.P No. 14269 of 2024 ORDER i) Petition in allowed. ii) Petitioner / accused No.3 in Crime No.277/2023 of Jnanabharathi Police Station, Bengaluru City, is ordered to be released on bail subject to following conditions: a) He shall execute a bond in a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. b) He shall furnish proof of his residential address and shall inform the Investigation Officer/Court, if there is any change in the address. c) He shall not leave the jurisdiction of the trial Court without prior permission of the learned session Judge. - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:3713 CRL.P No. 14269 of 2024 d) He shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. e) He shall appear before the trial Court on all dates of hearing without fail. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE LDC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30