- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35811 CRL.P No. 11860 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11860 OF 2025 BETWEEN: VINOD ANTHONY S/O ANTHONY V.D., AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, R/AT FLAT NO.5, MIG A4 BLOCK, VYASANAGAR ROAD, BEHIND K.P.T., BEJAI, MANGALURU-575 004. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHANE N.G., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. NISHIT KUMAR SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA POLICE, MANGALURU CITY, REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. B.S. PRASAD, SPL. PP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.7/2025 OF LOKAYUKTHA POLICE STATION, MANGALURU FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 7(a) AND Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35811 CRL.P No. 11860 of 2025 7(c) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988 (AMENDED 2018), ON THE FILE OF III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, MANGALORE, D.K. DISTRICT. 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 is preferred under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 by accused No.2 in Crime No.7/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta Police Station, Mangaluru, seeking pre arrest bail. 2. Heard both sides and perused the material on record. 3. Aforementioned case is registered for the offence punishable under Section 7(a) and 7(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. 4. It is the case of prosecution that accused Nos.1 and 2 working as Police constables at Kadri traffic Police Station, demanded a bribe of Rs.30,000/- from the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35811 CRL.P No. 11860 of 2025 complainant, to release the documents pertaining to his car which was involved in an accident on 27.04.2025. It is alleged, accused No.1 instructed the complainant to speak to the petitioner, when he requested him to return his original license. 5. After registering the case, a trap was laid and accused No.1 was caught while receiving a bribe of Rs.5000/- from the complainant. 6. The prosecution is alleging that the complainant’s car bearing registration No.KA-21-MA-5073 met with an accident on 27.04.2025. In this connection, when the complainant met the accused, working as constables, they demanded a bribe of Rs.30,000/-. Further, the complainant was asked to get the original license and his mobile phone and thereafter, receiving his mobile phone, his car was released. Thereafter, on 23.06.2025 when the complainant gave the original license, his mobile phone was returned to him and he was - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35811 CRL.P No. 11860 of 2025 informed that only after payment of bribe, his license will be returned. 7. Conversations between the accused and the complainant are said to be recorded in complainant’s mobile phone. Trap was conducted on 10.07.2025, wherein, accused No.1 was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs.5,000/-. 8. Admittedly, the tainted currency was recovered at the instance of accused No.1. Petitioner was not present when the trap took place. 9. The prosecution is relying on the conversation between the accused and the complainant, recovery of tainted currency which was kept below the specs box on the table, the resultant hand wash and the statements of the complainant and the shadow witness. 10. Accused No.1 was enlarged on bail in Crl.P.No.11557/2025 vide order dated 28.8.2025. It is submitted that the petitioner has been working as a Police - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35811 CRL.P No. 11860 of 2025 Constable since past several years and there is no black mark in his entire career. 11. Considering the above facts and circumstances, the relief sought by the petitioner can be granted by imposing necessary conditions. Hence, the following: ORDER 1. Petition is allowed. 2. Petitioner/accused No.2 in Crime No.7/2025 registered by Karnataka Lokayukta Police Station, Mangaluru, shall be released in the event of his arrest, subject to following conditions: a) He shall appear before the Investigating Officer within one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only) with a surety for the likesum. b) He shall furnish his residential address/contact number and shall inform - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35811 CRL.P No. 11860 of 2025 the I.O. in case of change in the address/contact number. c) He shall co-operate with the investigation of the case. d) 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. e) He shall be regular in attending the Court proceedings. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE HB/TL List No.: 1 Sl No.: 58