- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33440 CRL.P No. 11557 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11557 OF 2025 BETWEEN: THASLEEM ARIF J. S/O J. ABDUL KHADAR, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, R/AT D.NO.2-11/20, K.S. COTTAGE, HIDAYATH NAGARA, BEHIND MONA ENTERPRISES, PERMANNUR POST AND VILLAGE, ULLAL TALUK, D.K. DISTRICT-575 017. WORKING AS POLICE HEAD CONSTABLE NO.322, TRAFFIC EAST POLICE STATION, MANGALORE. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NISHIT KUMAR SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA POLICE, MANGALURU CITY, REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. VENKATESH S. ARBATTI, SPL. PP) Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33440 CRL.P No. 11557 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 CR.P.C (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.7/2025 OF KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA POLICE STATION, MANGALURU, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 7(a) AND 7(c) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988 (AMENDED 2018), ON THE FILE OF THE III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, MANGALURU. 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 by accused No.1, to enlarge him on bail in Cr.No.7/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta Police Station, Mangaluru, registered for the offence punishable under Section 7(a) and 7(c) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. 2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioner, the learned Special Prosecutor for respondent and perused the material on record. 3. It is the case of prosecution that, petitioner/accused No.1 working as a Police Constable at - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33440 CRL.P No. 11557 of 2025 Kadri Traffic Police Station, demanded Rs.30,000/- from the complainant to release the documents pertaining to his car which had met with an accident on 27.4.2025, later on 10.7.2025, he was apprehended while receiving a bribe of Rs.5,000/- from the complainant. 4. Learned Special Prosecutor has filed statement of objections opposing the prayer for bail. He contended that in view of the voice recording and the statement of the complainant and the shadow witness, there is a prima facie case against the petitioner and since the investigation is under progress, he is not entitled for bail. 5. The complainant’s car bearing registration No.KA-21-MA-5073 met with an accident on 27.4.2025. In this connection, a case was registered and he was asked to come to the police station along with the vehicle and the documents. It is alleged that the petitioner, working as a constable and another police by name Vinod did not release the car in favour of the complainant instead they demanded a bribe of Rs.30,000/-. It is - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33440 CRL.P No. 11557 of 2025 further alleged in the complaint that the complainant was asked to get the original licence and his mobile phone and thereafter, receiving his mobile phone, his car was released. Further, on 23.6.2025, when he gave the original licence, his mobile phone was returned to him and he was informed that only after payment of bribe, his license will be returned. It is further alleged that on 7.7.2025, petitioner telephoned to the complainant demanding bribe and the said conversation was recorded in the mobile phone. Thereafter, complaint was lodged against both the accused. 6. Trap was conducted on 10.7.2025. As per prosecution, petitioner received the tainted currency of Rs.5,000/- from the complainant and after counting the same kept it on the table, below the specs box, which was later seized by the police. 7. The prosecution is relying on the conversation between the petitioner and the complainant, recovery of tainted currency kept below the specs box on the table, - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33440 CRL.P No. 11557 of 2025 the resultant hand wash and the statements of the complainant and the shadow witness. As per the statement of shadow witness, he was standing outside the room near a window. 8. Petitioner was arrested on 10.7.2025 and he is in judicial custody. Investigation is almost completed. It is submitted that the FSL report is awaited. Petitioner has no bad antecedents. 9. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that after registration of the case, petitioner has been suspended from service. Hence, tampering the evidence does not arise. 10. Considering that the petitioner is not required for further interrogation and he is in judicial custody from 10.7.2025, by imposing suitable conditions, petitioner can be enlarged on bail. Hence, the following: ORDER I. Petition is allowed. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33440 CRL.P No. 11557 of 2025 II. Petitioner/accused No.1 in Crime No.7/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta Police Station, Mangaluru, shall be enlarged on bail, subject to following conditions: 1. He shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only), with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. 2. He shall furnish his residential address and shall inform the Court, if there is change in the address. 3. He shall not directly or indirectly make any 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. 4. He shall appear before the trial Court regularly on all effective dates of hearing. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33440 CRL.P No. 11557 of 2025 Violation of condition/s shall result in cancellation of bail. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE TL List No.: 1 Sl No.: 37