- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50888 CRL.P No. 12743 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 12743 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. MANJU AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS S/O MERAVAIAH R/AT NEAR SIDDAPPAJI TEMPLE ASHOKAPURAM MYSURU-570 004. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. P NATARAJU, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MANDYA RURAL POLICE STATION MANDYA DISTRICT. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 Cr.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO RELEASE HIM ON BAIL IN CR.No.274/2021 REGISTERED BY MANDYA RURAL P.C, MANDYA DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 302 AND 201 OF IPC. Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50888 CRL.P No. 12743 of 2025 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 sole accused under Section 439 of Cr.P.C praying to grant bail in S.C.No.132/2021 arising out of Crime No.274/2021 of Mandya Rural Police Rural Police Station pending on the file of I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya registered for offences punishable under Section 302 and 201 of IPC. 2. Heard learned Counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent – State. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the petitioner is in judicial custody since 25.06.2021. Till the date, only 25 witnesses out of 63 witnesses are examined. There are no eye witnesses to the incident. The case of the prosecution is based on circumstances evidence. There are no criminal antecedents. The petitioner undertakes to attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing and abide by - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50888 CRL.P No. 12743 of 2025 terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. With these, he prays to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent –State would contend that offences alleged against the petitioner are heinous offences. If the petitioner is granted bail he will tamper prosecution witnesses. With these, he prays to reject the petition. 5. Having heard learned counsels, this Court has perused the charge sheet and other materials placed on record. 6. As per charge sheet the case of the prosecution is that the deceased has married C.W.1 and their marriage was love marriage. C.W.1 came in contract with the petitioner through social media and petitioner is loving C.W.1. The petitioner –accused after coming to know the marriage of C.W.1 with deceased—Akshay, to kill the deceased, the petitioner –accused took the deceased on his motorcycle, assaulted him with beer bottle on neck and caused his death. There are no witnesses to the incident and the case of the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50888 CRL.P No. 12743 of 2025 prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. The petitioner is in judicial custody since more than 4 years, till date out of 64 witnesses, only 25 witnesses are examined. Considering the above aspect, the petitioner has made out case for grant of bail with conditions. 7. In the result, the following ORDER i) The petition is allowed. ii) The petitioner is granted bail in S.C.No.132/2021 arising out of Crime No.274/2021 of Mandya Rural Police Rural Police Station pending on the file of I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya registered for offences punishable under Section 302 and 201 of IPC subject to following conditions: a) The petitioner –accused shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court. b) The petitioner –accused shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50888 CRL.P No. 12743 of 2025 c) The petitioner –accused shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted and co- operate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DSP List No.: 2 Sl No.: 28 Ct.sm