- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35499 CRL.P No. 11837 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11837 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. ABHILASH M. @ ABHI S/O LATE MOHAN, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, RESIDING AT SIRI EPITOWN APARTMENT, PLOT NO.101, 3RD CROSS, NEW HUNUMAGIRI LAYOUT, CHIKKALLASANDRA, BENGALURU-560 061. 2. NAVEENKUMAR S. @ NAVEEN S/O G. SHEKHAR, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.42, BEHIND S.S.M. SCHOOL, NEAR NAYARA PETROL BUNK, 3RD BLOCK, THYAGARAJANAGAR, CHANNAMMANAKERE ACCHUKATTU, BENGALURU-560 070. 3. G.S. RUDRA S/O LATE SHIVAPPA, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.91/H, 4TH MAIN ROAD, NEAR DHATTATREYA TEMPLE, THYAGARAJANAGARA, CHANNAMMANAKERE ACCHUKATTU, BENGALURU-560 070. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SHIVAKUMAR D.K., ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35499 CRL.P No. 11837 of 2025 AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KUMARSWAMY LAYOUT POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY. REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO RELEASE THE PETITIONERS ON BAIL, IN CRIME NO.223/2025, FOR AN OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 115(2), 140(2), 3(5), OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), 2023, OF RESPONDENT POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF XXX ADDL. CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ ORAL ORDER This petition under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 is preferred to enlarge the petitioners on bail in Cr.No.223/2025 of Kumaraswamy Layout Police Station, Bengaluru City, rgistered for the offence punishable under Section 115(2), 140(2) r/w 3(5) of BNS, 2023. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35499 CRL.P No. 11837 of 2025 2. Heard both sides and perused the material on record. 3. In the complaint lodged by one Rajesh A., it is averred that on 18.7.2025 at about 7.15 p.m., after completion of his work while he was proceeding to his house, near Indusind Bank, Dayanand Sagar College Road, he saw four persons assaulting and pushing two boys aged 20-22 years inside the car. When he questioned them, they told him that the said two boys are selling ganja and abducted them in the car bearing registration No.KA-19-M-5824. 4. Accused Nos.1, 3 an 4 were arrested on 20.7.2025. They were taken to police custody on 23.7.2025. Their voluntary statements were recorded. From accused No.1, cash of Rs.20,000/- and from accused No.3, cash of Rs.22,000/- was recovered apart from mobile phones etc. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35499 CRL.P No. 11837 of 2025 5. It is the case of prosecution that the accused abducted the victims in their car and then demanded a ransom of Rs.2 lakhs for their release and extorted money from them. 6. The contention of learned counsel for petitioners that the petitioners are innocent and they have not committed any offence etc., cannot be accepted at this stage since the statement of the complainant and the victims have been recorded. The statements clearly reveal that the accused have demanded ransom of Rs.2 lakhs after abducting the victims, for their release. 7. It is contended by the learned HCGP that accused No.1 is involved in three more cases in Cr.No.8/2014 of Banashankari Police Station registered for the offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC, Cr.No.35/2021 registered under Section 229(A) of IPC and Cr.No.185/2022 of CEN Police Station, South Division, Bengaluru, registered for the offence punishable under Section 66(C), 66(D) of IT Act and 420 of IPC. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35499 CRL.P No. 11837 of 2025 8. There is a prima facie case against the petitioners. Investigation is in progress. Hence, this is not a fit case to enlarge the petitioners on bail. Petition is dismissed. 9. Petitioners are at liberty to file a fresh petition before the Sessions Court, after completion of investigation. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE TL List No.: 1 Sl No.: 77