- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37666 CRL.P No. 11695 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO.11695 OF 2025 BETWEEN: SHRADDHA RADHAKRISHNA SHETTY W/O NIKHIL HEGDE AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS R/AT #1, #4-121 NADUMANE, MOLAHALLI UDUPI- 576222. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. H. PAVANA CHANDRA SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS CENTRAL CEN CRIME POLICE STATION, BENGALURU REP. BY HIGH COURT SPP BENGALURU-560001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. R. RANGASWAMY HCGP FOR R1; SRI. PRATEEK RATH, ADVOCATE FOR DEFACTO COMPLAINT- ORDER TO ASSIST HCGP VIDE ORDER DATED 03.09.2025) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT THE RELIEF OF ANTICIPATORY BAIL, DIRECT THE RESPONDENT CENTRAL CEN CRIME POLICE STATION TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH CRIME NO.0189/2025, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 318(2) AND 318(4) Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37666 CRL.P No. 11695 of 2025 OF BNS 2023 AND U/S 66(C) AND 66(D) OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, ON THE FILE OF THE 45TH ADDL.CMM COURT, NRUPATUNGA ROAD, BENGALURU WITH OR WITHOUT CONDITIONS THAT THIS HON’BLE COURT DEEMS UNDER FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ ORAL ORDER 1. Petitioner is before this Court, in this petition preferred under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking pre- arrest bail in a case registered at Central C.E.N Crime Police Station in Crime No.189/2025 for the offence punishable under Section 66(D) and 66(C) of Information Technology Act, Section 318(2) and 318(4) of BNS, 2023. 2. Similar application was made before the Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.6315/2025, which came to be dismissed by the learned Sessions Judge vide order dated 05.08.2025. 3. The facts which could be briefly stated as per the complaint lodged by one Avani Sahajpal, Senior Legal - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37666 CRL.P No. 11695 of 2025 Counsel APAC, Deel Inc. are that Deel Inc., a global company providing payroll and Employer of Record (EOR) services, suffered a large scale economic fraud at the hands of accused No.1 and others. The said accused No.1 while working as a contract employee, conspired with impersonators claiming to be representatives of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.(JSPL) to forge a master services agreement and facilitate on boarding of 10 fake employees under the guise of JSPL's HR department. Pursuant to this, Deel Inc. allegedly paid USD.1,855,302.84 (INR 15.81 Cr. approx) in salaries and USD 12,268 (INR 10.45 lakhs approx) in commissions. These funds were allegedly routed to various Indian and foreign bank accounts, including those linked to accused No.1 and etc., 4. Petitioner is not arraigned as an accused in the FIR. The learned Sessions Judge while dismissing the petition has observed that as per investigation, petitioner’s joint and personal bank accounts received proceeds of crime totaling INR 99,22,361.00 and she has individually - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37666 CRL.P No. 11695 of 2025 received INR 65,12,300.00 from two other accused persons, including one approver. It is further observed that the explanation furnished by the petitioner regarding these amounts was neither consistent nor credible and she vaguely describes them as “hand loans” and referral fees. 5. A detailed statement of objections has been filed by respondent No.2/de-facto complainant. It is strenuously argued by the learned counsel Sri.Prateek Rath appearing for the said respondent that even though the name of the petitioner is not in the FIR, as it was not made known about her involvement in the case, subsequently it is revealed that she too was involved in committing fraud against the company. He contended that the petitioner is none other than the wife of accused No.1. Drawing the attention of the Court to a complaint dated 27.06.2025 filed by the said accused, wherein it is stated that to clear many hand loans which he had taken during his foreign education, marriage and family house construction, he has received funds from one Marvin and - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37666 CRL.P No. 11695 of 2025 Mubeen. The said contention of the learned counsel would make it clear that taking a cue from the complaint filed by accused No.1, said allegations are made against the petitioner. 6. Learned HCGP has contended that a notice was issued under Section 35(3) of BNSS, 2023 to the petitioner on 14.07.2025, but she failed to appear before the Investigation Officer in response to the said notice. He contended that the petitioner has not demonstrated eminent threat of arrest, which was also observed by the learned Sessions Judge while dismissing her petition seeking anticipatory bail. 7. It is pertinent to mention that this Court vide order dated 22.08.2025 granted interim anticipatory bail to the petitioner with a condition that she shall execute a bond in a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- with a surety for the likesum, in the event of her arrest and to co-operate with the investigation of the case and not to tamper with the prosecution evidence of the witnesses. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37666 CRL.P No. 11695 of 2025 8. It is submitted that pursuant to the said order, petitioner appeared before the Investigation Officer on 29.08.2025 and executed the bond as per the order and her statement was also recorded by the Investigation Officer. Learned Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that petitioner is doing a 2 years course at Trent University, Durham, Canada from January-2024 to January-2026 which is a dual post-graduate certificate study in Human Resource Management and Marketing and Entrepreneurship. 9. It is not in dispute that accused No.1 named in the FIR has been enlarged on bail by the learned Magistrate. Considering the facts and circumstances, the relief sought in the petition, granted by way of interim measure, can be made absolute. Accordingly, the following: ORDER i) Petition is allowed. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37666 CRL.P No. 11695 of 2025 ii) Order releasing the petitioner on interim bail dated 22.08.2025 in Crime No.189/2025 of Central Crime Police Station, Bengaluru City is made absolute, subject to following conditions: a) Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence/witnesses either directly or indirectly. b) Petitioner shall be regular in attending the Court proceedings. c) Petitioner shall co-operate with the investigation. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE RHS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 38