- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38525 CRL.P No. 12561 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12561 OF 2025 BETWEEN: SALEEM @ ABDUL SALEEM S/O. MAHAMMAD, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, R/AT SALIMARA HOUSE, PERNE POST & VILLAGE, BANTWALA TALUK, D.K. DISTRICT -574 325 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MAHAMMED MUSTHAFA, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY UPPINANGADY POLICE REP BY SPP, HIGH COURT CAMPUS, BANGALORE-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY MS. ASMA KOUSER, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.P.C (U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS BAIL PETITION AND RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.68/2025 OF RESPONDENT UPPINANGADY POLICE STATION, PENDING ON THE FILE OF ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, PUTTUR, FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 140(2) OF BNS, 2023, WHEREIN THIS PETITIONER IS ARRAYED AS ACCUSED NO.1. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38525 CRL.P No. 12561 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ ORAL ORDER Heard both sides and perused the material on record. 2. FIR in Crime No.53/2025 came to be registered at Bantwala Rural Police Station, Dakshina Kannada, for the offence punishable under Section 140(2) of BNS, 2023, on a complaint lodged by one Rabiya W/o Mohammed Rafiq 3. It is alleged in the complaint that on 19.05.2025 at about 02:30 p.m., complainant’s brother Iqbal went out of their house, after receiving a call and did not return. On 21.05.2025 in the morning at about 07:28 a.m., her husband received a call from Iqbal stating that he has been kidnapped and the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of Rs.5,00,000/- for his release. The victim was secured on 24.05.2025. His statement was recorded by the police and by the learned Magistrate under Section 183 of the BNSS, 2023. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38525 CRL.P No. 12561 of 2025 4. On the point of jurisdiction, the case was transferred to Uppinangadi Police Station and registered as Crime No.68/2025. The said FIR is registered against accused Nos.1 to 4, wherein petitioner is arraigned as accused No.1. He was arrested on 27.07.2025. 5. It is the case of prosecution that on 19.05.2025 victim by name Iqbal along with one Ziyad and Iqbal went to Perne to meet the petitioner/accused No.1, to recover a sum of Rs.4,000/- which he owed to Ziyad. When the said amount was demanded, accused No.1 quarreled with them. In the quarrel, he sustained minor injuries. On seeing the people approaching, Ziyad and his friend Iqbal fled away. Accused No.1 secured other accused and abducted the victim-Iqbal in a car. It is alleged that the accused assaulted him and demanded Rs.5,00,000/- ransom for his release. 6. As per prosecution, one Ziyad took the victim- Iqbal and another person by name Iqbal to Perne to - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38525 CRL.P No. 12561 of 2025 recover a sum of Rs.4,000/- from the petitioner herein. Quarrel ensured between the petitioner and ziyad, wherein the petitioner sustained some injuries. Ziyad and his friend Iqbal escaped, hence, the petitioner and other accused abducted Iqbal i.e., the victim, on the ground that he is a friend of Ziyad and alleged to have demanded ransom for his release. 7. This Court on 12.09.2025 granted interim bail to the petitioner to enable him to attend the marriage of his sister on 14.09.2025. He was directed to execute a bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- with a surety to the likesum and he was directed to surrender before the jurisdictional Court on or before 22.09.2025. 8. It is submitted by the learned counsel that the petitioner has executed the bond and he was released on bail and subsequently, he appeared before the jurisdictional Court on 22.09.2025, as directed by this Court. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38525 CRL.P No. 12561 of 2025 9. Learned Additional SPP has contended that the petitioner is involved in three more criminal cases and therefore, if he is released on bail, he may once again indulge in criminal activities. 10. It is submitted by the learned counsel for petitioner that petitioner has been falsely implicated and in the previous cases registered against him, he has been enlarged on bail. 11. As per prosecution, petitioner and three other accused have abducted the victim, assaulted him and demanded ransom for his release. However, it is not the case of prosecution that any amount was paid to them. As per wound certificate, victim has sustained a minor injury. 12. Considering that the petitioner has been arrested and interrogated, he can be enlarged on bail, by imposing suitable conditions. Accordingly, the following: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38525 CRL.P No. 12561 of 2025 ORDER Petition is allowed. The order passed by this Court on 12.09.2025 granting interim bail to the petitioner is made absolute with further conditions as under: 1. He shall appear before the jurisdictional Court within a period of 10 days from the date of this order and shall furnish proof of his residential address and shall inform the Court, if there is change in the address. 2. He shall mark his attendance before the jurisdictional Police Station on every Sunday between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., for a period of three months. 3. He shall not indulge himself in any criminal activities. 4. He shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence/witnesses. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38525 CRL.P No. 12561 of 2025 5. He shall appear before the trial Court on every date of hearing without fail. If any of the above conditions are violated, prosecution is at liberty to seek cancellation of the bail. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE HB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 34