- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 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. 14368 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14349 OF 2025 CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14367 OF 2025 IN CRL.P No. 14368/2025 BETWEEN: DHARMICHAND CHOWDARY B S/O BHURARAM CHOWDARY AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, R/AT NO F-14, SEWAGE FARM ROAD, KANAKAGIRI, VIDYARANAYAPURAM, MYSURU - 570 008. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. GOPAL SINGH, ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ARAKERE POLICE STATION, MYSURU - 571 607 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 of 2025 THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT BAIL IN CR.NO.126/2025, REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT ARAKERE P.S, FOR O/P/U/S 331(4),305,317(4) AND 317(5) OF BNS, 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF HONOURABLE PRL.CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, S.R.PATNA, MANDYA DISTRICT, IMPOSING ANY CONDITIONS, FOR WHICH ACT OF KINDNESS, THE PETITIONER SHALL FOREVER PRAY AND ETC. IN CRL.P NO. 14349/2025 BETWEEN: DHARMICHAND CHOWDARY B., S/O BHURARAM CHOWDARY, AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, R/AT NO. F-14, SEWAGE FARM ROAD, KANAKAGIRI, VIDYARANAYAPURAM, MYSURU - 570 008. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. GOPAL SINGH, ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ARAKERE POLICE STATION, MYSURU - 571 607 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT BAIL IN CRIME NO.106/2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT ARAKERE POLICE STATION FOR OFFENCE P/US/ 331(4),305,317(4) AND 317(5) OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (Jr.Dn.) AND JMFC COURT, S.R.PATNA, MANDYA DISTRICT IMPOSING ANY CONDITIONS, FOR WHICH ACT OF KINDNESS THE PETITIONER SHALL FOREVER PRAY. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 of 2025 IN CRL.P NO. 14367/2025 BETWEEN: DHARMICHAND CHOWDARY B S/O BHURARAM CHOWDARY AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, R/AT NO. F-14, SEWAGE FARM ROAD, KANAKAGIRI, VIDYARANAYAPURAM MYSURU - 570 008. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. GOPAL SINGH, ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY K R SAGAR POLICE STATION, MYSURU - 571 607 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT BAIL IN CRIME NO.122/2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT K.R SAGAR POLICE STATION FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 331(4), 305, 333(1), 317(4) AND 317(5) OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL.CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT S.R PATNA MANDYA DISTRICT, IMPOSING ANY CONDITIONS FOR WHICH ACT OF KINDNESS, THE PETITIONER SHALL FOREVER PRAY. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 of 2025 ORAL ORDER 1. Criminal petition No.14368/2025 is filed by accused No. 6 under Section 483 of BNSS, praying to grant bail in Crime No.126/2025 of Arakere P.S., registered for offences under Section 331(4), 305, 317 (4) and 317 (5) of BNS, 2023. 2. Criminal petition No.14349/2025 is filed by accused No.6 under Section 483 of BNSS, praying to grant bail in Crime No.106/2025 of Arakere P.S., registered for offences under Section 331(4), 305, 317(4), and 317(5) of BNS, 2023. 3. Criminal petition No.14367/2025 is filed by accused No. 6 under Section 483 of BNSS, praying to grant bail in Crime No.122/2025 of K.R. Sagar P.S., registered for offences under Section 331(4), 305, 333(1), 317(4) and 317(5) of BNS, 2023. 4. Heard and learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent- State. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 of 2025 5. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that the petitioner is a Pawn Broker and he is innocent and he is not involved in commission of any offence alleged against him of receiving stolen property habitually. The name of this petitioner has been revealed by the accused No.1 in his voluntary statement and thereafter, the petitioner has been taken into police custody for 5 days between 04.09.2025 and 08.09.2025. No theft articles are found in the house and business premises of the petitioner. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents. With this, he prayed for allowing of the petitions. 6. Per contra, the learned HCGP would contend that the petitioner even though is in the habit of receiving the stolen property knowing it to be stolen has melted them and not produced to the police at the time of investigation. From the petitioner's wife melted ingot of 35 grams gold has been seized and also there was a seizure of a silver like article that is toe rings. The offence alleged against the petitioner is a heinous offence. If the petitioner is - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 of 2025 granted bail, he will commit similar offence. With this, he prayed to reject the petitions. 7. Having heard the learned counsels, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 8. The crimes have been registered against the accused persons for having committed theft of gold and silver articles. The accused persons who are alleged to have committed theft have disclosed the name of this petitioner having received the stolen gold and silver articles. The petitioner has been arrested on 04.09.2025 and he has been taken into police custody for 05 days and interrogated till 08.09.2025. There was a search of the house and business premise of the petitioner. The police did not seize any stolen articles. The police seized the articles which are used for preparing gold ornaments. The offence alleged against the petitioner is, he is a habitual receiver of stolen articles. The petitioner has been - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 of 2025 interrogated in police custody and now remanded to judicial custody. Considering the same, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. The petitioner has undertaken to co-operate with the police in further investigation and appear before the trial Court on all dates of hearing. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of bail in all the three petitions. 9. In the result, the following order (i) All the three petitions are allowed. (ii) The petitioner is granted bail in Crime No. 126/2025 and in Crime No.106/2025 of Arakere P.S., and Crime No. 122/2025 of K. R. Sagar P.S., subject to following conditions: - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:50792 CRL.P No. 14368 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 14349 of 2025 CRL.P No. 14367 of 2025 (i) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of ₹1,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court. (ii) The petitioner shall co-operate with the police in further investigation, if any. (iii) The petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. (iv) The petitioner shall attend the trial Court on all the dates of hearing, unless exempted and co- operate in speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE tsn* List No.: 1 Sl No.: 10