- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46707 CRL.P No. 14338 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14338 OF 2025 [(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)] BETWEEN: 1. RAGHU @ S RAGHURAJAN S/O SHIVALINGEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, 2. PRASAD @ MAHADEVAPRASAD S/O V M LINGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, 3. DEEPU @ V L PRADEEP KUMAR S/O V M LINGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, 4. GANGADHARASWAMY S., S/O SHANTHAMALLAPPA, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, 5. REVANNA S. S/O SHANTHAMALLAPPA, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, ALL ARE RESIDENT OF BOMMALAPURA VILLAGE, GUNDLUPETE TALUK, CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. HIREMATHAD MAHESHIAH RUDRAYYA, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46707 CRL.P No. 14338 of 2025 AND: 1. STATE BY GUNDLUPETE POLICE THE PSI, GUNDLUPETE POLICE STATION, CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111 REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT THE ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONERS IN THE EVENT OF ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT GUNDLUPETE POLICE IN CRIME NO.235/2025, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 126(2), 127(2), 189(2), 190, 191(2), 132, 351(3), 351(2), 352 AND 79 OF BNS, 2023 ON THE FILE OF CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C AT GUNDLUPETETE. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46707 CRL.P No. 14338 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by accused Nos.1 to 5 under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.235/2025 of Gundlupete Police Station, registered for offences punishable under Sections 126(2), 127(2), 189(2), 190, 191(2), 132, 351(3), 351(2), 352 and 79 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioners and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that, the petitioners and other villagers fed up with the tiger attack had requested the forest officials. The forest officials did not take proper steps to protect the villagers and the cattle belonging to the villagers. When the villagers asked the forest officials to take stringent steps, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46707 CRL.P No. 14338 of 2025 the forest staff who are on contract basis have themselves entered the trap cage, so that it can influence the higher officials and asked the petitioners to take photo and send it to the higher Officers. There is no any serious allegation against the petitioners. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioners are ready to cooperate with the Police in investigation. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent would contend that, the petitioners have obstructed the forest officials from discharging their duties. They confined the forest officials in a trap cage and not allowed the forest officials to discharge their duties. The petitioners are required for interrogation. With these, she prayed for dismissal of the petition. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46707 CRL.P No. 14338 of 2025 5. Having heard the learned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. The allegation in the complaint against these petitioners is that, they kept the forest officials in the trap cage and obstructed them from discharging their duties and committed offences alleged against them. The petitioners with intent to take stringent action on the part of forest officials have forced them which led to filing of the complaint. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioners have undertaken to cooperate with the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. 7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioners have made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46707 CRL.P No. 14338 of 2025 ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioners are granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.235/2025 of Gundlupete Police Station and are ordered to be released on bail in the event their arrest, subject to following conditions: i) The petitioners shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) each with one surety for the like-sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. ii) The petitioners shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from this day and execute bail bond and furnish surety. iii) The petitioners shall cooperate with the Police in investigation and make themselves available for interrogation whenever required. iv) The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46707 CRL.P No. 14338 of 2025 v) The petitioners shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement of 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. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7