- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25748 CRL.P No. 8795 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8795 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. GEETHA V K, W/O. SRI. SANTHOSH M, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/AT NO.303, NEETHI NILAYA, GANGA RIVER ROAD, 22ND MAIN ROAD, SRINAGAR, BENGALURU- 560 019. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. GIREESHA RJ.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE BY HANUMANTHNAGARA, POLICE STATION, BENGALURU -560 019. REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU -560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. ASMA KAUSER, ADDL.S.P.P) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE HIS EVENT OF ARREST IN CR.NO.145/2025 FOR THE O/P/U/S 305 OF BNS Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25748 CRL.P No. 8795 of 2025 2023 REGISTERED BY HANUMANTHNAGAR P.S, BENGALURU NOW CASE PENDING ON THE FILE OF HONBLE 37TH ACMM AT BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused in Crime No.145/2025 registered by Hanumanthanagar Police Station, Bengaluru City, for offences punishable under Section 305 of BNS 2023 is before this Court under Section 482 of BNSS 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.145/2025 was registered by Hanumanthanagar Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the aforesaid offences against unknown persons based on the first information dated 04.06.2025 received from Smt.Geetha. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.4867/2025 before the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25748 CRL.P No. 8795 of 2025 Jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 19.06.2025. Therefore, petitioner is before this Court. 4. Learned Counsel for the petitioner having reiterated the grounds urged in this petition has prayed to allow this petition. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP has opposed the petition. 6. In the FIR it is alleged that the first informant had locked her house and after handing over the key to the petitioner, had gone on vacation and when she returned she found that her jewellery which was kept in her house was missing. It is in this background the first informant approached the police. During the course of investigation, the husband of the petitioner had appeared before the police on 08.06.2025 and had stated that his wife had confessed to him about committing theft of the gold jewellery in the house of first informant using the key which was handed over to her. He further had stated that - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25748 CRL.P No. 8795 of 2025 since the father of the petitioner was in serious debt, she had committed the theft. Based on the statement of the husband of the petitioner, the police have recovered the stolen gold from the owner of the jewellery shop by name Abhay jewelers in solid state. 7. The petitioner who is a married lady, has no other criminal antecedents. She has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of further investigation. Since the recovery of the stolen articles from is already completed, custodial interrogation of the petitioner may not be required in the present case. The maximum punishment for the aforesaid offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years. 8. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively, reserving liberty to the Investigating Officer to seek custody of the petitioner by filing necessary - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25748 CRL.P No. 8795 of 2025 application before the jurisdictional Court, in the event it becomes necessary. Accordingly, the following: ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of her arrest in Crime No.145/2025 registered by Hanumanthanagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for offences punishable under Sections 305 of the BNS 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case between 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on 23.07.2025 and on the said date the Investigating Officer is at liberty to take the petitioner to custody for the purpose of interrogation, if necessary. However, it is made clear that the petitioner shall be released on the same date on or before 6:00 p.m., subject to petitioner executing personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25748 CRL.P No. 8795 of 2025 sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and she shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The Petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE RKA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 72