- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12515 OF 2025 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12696 OF 2025 IN CRL.P No. 12515/2025 BETWEEN: MR. RUMAN PASHA S/O. ANSAR PASHA, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, R/AT NO. 3M, 13TH CROSS, CHINNAPPA GARDEN, BENSON TOWN, BANGALORE-560 046. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. FAYEEZ ULLA KHAN, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY KARNATAKA THROUGH THE POLICE INSPECTOR, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA BANGALORE URBAN, BANGALORE, REPRESENTED BY SPL. PP, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. B.S. PRASAD, SPL. PP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 CR.P.C (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE ACCUSED NO.2 ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.44/2025 FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 SECTION 7(a) 7(A) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988 FILED BY THE COMPLAINANT WHICH IS PENDING IN THE COURT OF XXIII ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE CUM SPECIAL JUDGE (P.C.ACT) AT BENGALURU BY IMPOSING ANY CONDITIONS TO THE SATISFACTION OF THIS HON’BLE COURT. IN CRL.P NO. 12696/2025 BETWEEN: MR. IMRAN S/O BABU, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, R/AT NO. GOVINDAPPA BLOCK P. FACTORY ROAD, D J HALLI, BANGALORE-45. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. FAYEEZ ULLA KHAN, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY KARNATAKA THROUGH THE POLICE INSPECTOR, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA BANGALORE URBAN DISTRICT, BANGALORE, BY SPL. PP, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. B.S. PRASAD, SPL. PP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE ACCUSED NO.3 ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.44/2025 FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 7(a) 7(A) OF THE PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988 FILED BY THE COMPLAINANT WHICH IS PENDING IN THE COURT OF XXIII ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE CUM SPECIAL JUDGE (P.C.ACT) AT BANGALORE BY IMPOSING ANY CONDITIONS TO THE SATISFACTION OF THIS HON’BLE COURT. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ COMMON ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Spl. Prosecutor for the respondent-Lokayukta Police and perused the material on record. 2. FIR in Crl.No.44/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta Police Station, Bengaluru City, was registered against accused Nos.1 and 2, working as Police Inspector and Police Sub-Inspector of Ramamurthynagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short ‘PC Act’). 3. In the complaint lodged by one Manjunath N., it is alleged that there was some dispute between his client Gopinath Pubbishetty and his wife Smt.Sushma - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 Pubbishetty. Hence, Gopinath Pubbishetty had lodged a complaint against his wife alleging that she has withdrawn Rs.13 lakhs from his bank account, threatening him that she will commit suicide and she has also taken away about 621.9 gms of gold ornaments from the bank locker, without his knowledge etc. It is alleged that, to initiate action on the complaint, accused Nos.1 and 2 demanded a bribe of Rs.2 lakhs and later scaled down the demand to Rs.1,50,000/-. 4. On registration of the case, the Lokayukta Police laid a trap and on 16.8.2025, accused No.3, a private person was apprehended, while accepting the bribe on behalf of accused Nos.1 and 2. 5. The learned Spl. Prosecutor has filed statement of objections. He vehemently opposed the prayer for bail contending that the investigation is in progress and certain documents are yet to be secured. He contended that accused Nos.1 and 2 are police officials and accused No.3 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 is a private person who at their behest received the bribe. He contended that if the relief sought in the petitions are granted, there is likelihood of tampering the evidence by the accused. Accordingly, sought to dismiss the petition. 6. The learned counsel for petitioners has contended that the allegations that bribe was demanded etc., is entirely false. He contended that accused No.3 is a private person and not a public servant and even if any money was recovered from him, it cannot be said that it relates to any bribe given by the complainant, in connection with the work pending before accused No.1 or accused No.2. He contended that accused No.1 has been granted bail by this Court, petitioners will undertake to co-operate with the investigation and they will undertake to furnish adequate surety to ensure their presence before the trial Court. He submitted that accused No.2 has been working as a PSI for the past several years without any blemish. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 7. Petitioners are accused Nos.2 and 3 respectively. The prosecution is relying on the statements of the complainant, shadow witness, alleged conversations between the complainant and the accused, recovery of tainted currency from accused No.3 and entrustment and trap mahazars. Petitioners are arrested on 16.8.2025. They are already interrogated and not required for further interrogation/investigation. Major part of the investigation has been completed. The allegations against the petitioners have to be established in a full fledged trial. It is submitted that accused Nos.1 and 2 are suspended from services. Accused No.1 has been granted bail. 8. In the above facts and circumstances, imposing suitable conditions, the relief sought by the petitioners can be granted. Hence, the following: ORDER I. Petition is allowed. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 II. Petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 in Crime No.44/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta Police Station, Bengaluru City, shall be enlarged on bail, subject to the following conditions: 1. They shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.2,00,000/-(Rupees two lakhs only) each, with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. 2. They shall furnish proof of their residential address and shall inform the Court, if there is change in the address. 3. They shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. 4. They shall appear before the trial Court regularly on all effective dates of hearing. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38336 CRL.P No. 12515 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12696 of 2025 Violation of any of the above conditions shall result in cancellation of the bail. I.A.No.1/2025 for interim bail in Crl.P.No.12515/2025 is disposed of. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE TL List No.: 1 Sl No.: 33