- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45627 CRL.P No. 8873 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8873 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. MANOJ V, S/O VENKATARAJU, AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS, R/AT. NO.125, DC HALLI ROAD, KRISHNA LAYOUT, DEVARACHIKKANAHALLI, BANGALORE SOUTH, BANGALORE-560076. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SATHISHA D J.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE BY NORTH CEN CRIME POLICE STATION, DCP NORTH DIVISION, BANGALORE, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE-560001. …RESPONDENT (BY Smt.PUSHPALATHA B, ADDL. SPP) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45627 CRL.P No. 8873 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.1 ON BAIL IN CR.NO.582/2024 DATED 10.08.2024 BY THE NORTH CEN CRIME POLICE STATION, FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 318(4) OF BNS AND THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 66C AND 66D OF I.T ACT, 2005, TO THE EXTENT OF PETITIONER IS CONCERNED, PENDING ON THE FILE OF LXIII ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BANGALORE I/C LVI ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BANGALORE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by the petitioner under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.582 of 2024 of North CEN Crime Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Section 318(4) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2000. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for the respondent/State. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45627 CRL.P No. 8873 of 2025 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that, the name of petitioner is not forthcoming in the complaint and FIR. He is receiving calls from the police, and therefore, he apprehends his arrest. The offence alleged against him is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. He is ready to cooperate with the police in the investigation. There are no criminal antecedent of the petitioner. With this, he prays to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, the learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for the respondent/State would contend that, the case involves investment fraud. There are 91 cases registered against the petitioner and one Yeshwanth D.S. as they are the directors of M/s.Echoraise Private Limited, a fake company, and cheated several persons under the guise of investment. Huge amount of Rs.2,10,000/- has been credited to the account of M/s.Echoraise Private Limited. There are ninety one cases registered against the petitioner and another in National Crime Portal. The - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45627 CRL.P No. 8873 of 2025 petitioner is required for interrogation. The notice sent through registered post by police has been returned. With this, she prayed for dismissal of the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. In the FIR and complaint, the name of this petitioner is not forthcoming. He apprehends his arrest as he is receiving phone calls from the police. The police have already issued a notice dated 13.05.2025 to M/s.Echorise Private Limited, which is represented by Yashwanth D.S. and Manoj B. (petitioner). The said notice sent through RPAD has not been served on the petitioner. The allegation in the FIR is a financial fraud. As per the Investigating Officer, a huge amount of Rs.2,10,000/- has been credited to the account of M/s.Echorise Private Limited, wherein the petitioner and Yeshwanth D.S. are directors. The offences alleged against the petitioner are - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45627 CRL.P No. 8873 of 2025 not punishable with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the police in the investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. 7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER i) The petition is allowed. ii) The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.582 of 2024 of North CEN Crime Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Section 318(4) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2000 subject to following conditions: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45627 CRL.P No. 8873 of 2025 a) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from this day, and execute a bail bond for Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. b) The petitioner shall co-operate with the Investigating Offer in the investigation. c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make an inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. d) The petitioner shall mark his attendance before the jurisdictional police station on first and third Sundays of every month for a period of three months or till filing of final report whichever is earlier. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE bkm List No.: 1 Sl No.: 5