- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2001 OF 2025 BETWEEN: KIRAN KUMAR @ KIRANA, S/O KEMPAGUDDAIAH, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, RESIDING AT HEJAGAL VILLAGE, KASABA HOBLI, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT- 562120. (NOW IN J.C). …APPELLANT (BY SRI A.N. RADHA KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY MAGADI POLICE, REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. SMT. POORVIKA, W/O MARUTHI, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT SIDDANAHOSANAHALI, DASANAPURA HOBLI, BENGALURU NORTH TALUK- 562162. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI B LAKSHMAN, HCGP FOR R1, V/O/DT 24.10.2025 R2 SERVED & UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S 14(A)2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE APPELLANT PRAYING TO 1.SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 01.08.2025 PASSED BY THE LEARNED 1ST ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, RAMANAGARA IN CRL.MISC.NO.557/2025 AND CONSEQUENTLY, 2.ALLOW THE APPEAL AND ENLARGE THE Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 APPELLANT ON BAIL IN CR.NO.213/2024, OF MAGADI POLICE FOR THE OFEFNCE P/U/S 103(1),238,61(2) OF BNS 2023 AND SEC.3(1)(v) OF SC/ST (POA) AMENDMENT ACT NOW PENDING IN SPL.CASE NO.164/2024 ON THE FIE OF THE LEARNED 1ST ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, RAMANAGARA. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA ORAL JUDGMENT 1. The appellant who is the accused No.2 before the Trial Court has preferred this appeal against the order dated 01.08.2025 in Crl.Misc.No.557/2025 passed by the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ramanagara. 2. Learned counsel for the appellant would submit that the Investigating Officer has completed the investigation and submitted the charge sheet against accused Nos.1 to 5 for the commission of offences punishable under sections 103(1), 238, 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and section 3(2)(v) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. 3. The appellant is not required for further investigation since he is not directly involved in the incident. The only allegation against the appellant is that, he was present at the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 time of commission of offence by accused No.1 and accused No.1 has made conspiracy along with other accused. 4. Further, he would submit that, this Court has already granted bail to accused No.5 - Rohit in Crl.A.39/2025 dated 12.06.2025. The learned Sessions Judge has granted bail to accused 3 and 4. The role of accused 3 and 4 and accused 2 are one and the same. Hence, the State has not preferred any appeal against the order passed by this Court as well as the Trial Court in respect of accused 3 to 5. Hence, the appellant is entitled for bail on the principle of parity. On all these grounds, learned counsel for the appellant has sought to allow this appeal. 5. Per contra, Sri B.Lakshman, learned High Court Government Pleader would submit that, there are prima facie materials to attract the alleged commission of offence against the appellant/accused No.2 and the Trial Court has properly appreciated the materials available on record and passed the impugned order that there are no materials to interfere with the same. Hence, he has sought for dismissal of the appeal. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 6. I have examined the materials placed before this Court. The Investigating Officer has submitted the charge sheet against the accused for the offences punishable under sections 103(1), 238, 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and section 3(2)(v) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. The gist of the prosecution as shown in Column 17 of the charge sheet, is as under: "17. PÉù£ ¸ÀAQë¥ÀÛ ¸ÁgÁA±À PÀ®A 103(1), 237, 61(2) ©.J¸ï.J¸ï eÉÆvÉUÉ 3(2)(v) SC/ST Act F PÉù£À ªÀÄÈvÉ ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÀå gÀªÀgÀÄ ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁw ®A¨Át d£ÁAUÀPÉÌ ¸ÉÃjzÀÄÝ, F zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀnÖ PÁ®A 12 gÀ°è PÀAqÀ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ FUÉÎ 05 ªÀµÀðUÀ¼À »AzÉ ªÀÄÈvÀ ®°vÀ @ ¢ªÁå¼À£ÀÄß ¦æÃw¹ zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ°è ªÀÄzÀÄªÉ ªÀiÁrPÉÆAqÀÄ ªÀiÁUÀr vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ PÀ¸À¨Á ºÉÆç½ PÀÄgÀÄ¥Á¼Àå UÁæªÀÄzÀ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄ ªÁ¸ÀzÀ ªÀÄ£ÉUÉ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ §A¢zÀÄÝ, ¸ÀzÀj ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ°è ªÀÄÈvÉ ¸ÁQë - 21, 22, & 23 gÀªÀgÉÆA¢UÉ ªÁ¸ÀªÁVzÀÄÝ, £ÀAvÀgÀ J1 DgÉÆæ & ªÀÄÈvÉUÉ eÉÊ JA§ MAzÀÄ UÀAqÀÄ ªÀÄUÀÄ ¸ÀºÀ d¤¹gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. FUÉÎ ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ 02 ªÀµÀðUÀ¼À »AzÉ ªÀÄÈvÉ ®°vÀ @ ¢ªÁågÀªÀgÀÄ vÀ£Àß UÀAqÀ£ÁzÀ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄ eÉÆvÉ ªÉÊAiÀÄQÛPÀ «ZÁgÀUÀ¼À°è UÀ¯ÁmÉ ªÀiÁrPÉÆAqÀÄ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ©lÄÖ vÀ£Àß ªÀÄUÀ£ÉÆA¢UÉ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆjUÉ §AzÀÄ ¨ÉÃgÉ PÀqÉ ªÁ¸ÀªÁVzÀÄÝ, FUÉÎ 06 wAUÀ½AzÀ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ ªÀiÁzÀ£ÁAiÀÄÌ£ÀºÀ½î, §½AiÀÄ zÉÆA§gÀ¥Á¼ÀåzÀ°è ¨ÁrUÉ ªÀÄ£É ªÀiÁrPÉÆAqÀÄ vÀ£Àß ªÀÄUÀ ºÁUÀÆ vÀAV ¸ÁQë-6 gÀªÀgÉÆA¢UÉ ªÁ¸ÀªÁVzÀÝgÀÄ. ªÀÄÈvÉ ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÁågÀªÀgÉÆA¢UÉ ¸ÁQë-18 gÀªÀgÀÄ C£ÉÆåãÀågÁV ¸ÀA§AzsÀ, ElÄÖPÉÆAqÀÄ DUÁUÉÎ ®°vÀ @ ¢ªÁågÀªÀgÀ ªÀÄ£ÉUÉ - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 ºÉÆÃV §gÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ, C®èzÉ ªÀÄÈvÉAiÀÄÄ vÀ£ÀUÉ «ZÉÑÃzÀ£À ¤ÃqÀ¨ÉÃPÉAzÀÄ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¥ÀzÉà ¥ÀzÉà ¦Ãr¸ÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ, EzÀjAzÀ J1 DgÉÆæ ªÀÄÈvÉAiÀÄ ªÉÄÃ¯É zÉéõÀ ¨É¼É¹PÉÆAqÀÄ vÀ£Àß ºÉAqÀwAiÀiÁzÀ ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÀå¼À£ÀÄß PÉÆ¯É ªÀiÁqÀ¨ÉÃPÉAzÀÄ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¸ÀªÀðtÂAiÀÄ d£ÁAUÀPÉÌ ¸ÉÃjzÀ J2, J3, J4 ºÁUÀÆ J5 DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÉÆA¢UÉ WÀ£À £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄzÀ, ªÀiÁUÀr ¥Éưøï oÁuÁ ¸ÀgÀºÀzÀÄÝ gÁªÀÄ£ÀUÀgÀ f¯Éè, ªÀiÁUÀr vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ, PÀ¸À¨Á ºÉÆç½, £ÁUÀ±ÉnÖºÀ½î UÁæªÀÄzÀ°è£À §¸ÀªÀtÚ zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ §½ ®°vÀ @ ¢ªÁå gÀªÀgÀ PÉƯÉUÉ M¼À¸ÀAZÀÄ gÀƦ¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ ®°vÀ @ ¢ªÁå gÀªÀgÀ PÉƯÉUÉ M¼À¸ÀAZÀÄ gÀƦ¹zÀAvÉ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÀå¼À DzÁgï PÁqïð «¼Á¸À §zÀ¯ÁªÀuÉ ªÀiÁrPÉÆqÀĪÀ £É¥ÀzÀ°è ¢£ÁAPÀ: 12.08.2024 gÀAzÀÄ ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÀå¼À£ÀÄß ªÀiÁzÀ£ÁAiÀÄÌ£ÀºÀ½î¬ÄAzÀ ¸ÁQë-07 gÀªÀgÀ ¨ÁrUÉ PÁj£À°è ®°vÁ¼À ¸ÉßûvÉ ¸ÁQë - 5 gÀªÀgÀ eÉÆvÉ ªÀiÁUÀrUÉ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ §AzÀÄ DzsÁgï PÁqïð §zÀ¯Á¬Ä¸ÀĪÀ ¸ÀA§AzsÀ ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÀå¼À£ÀÄß ªÀiÁUÀrAiÀÄ ¸ÁQë-8 jAzÀ 13 gÀ ªÀgÉV£À CAUÀrUÀ½UÉ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÉÆÃV £ÀA©PÉ ºÀÄnÖ¹ £ÀAvÀgÀ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¸ÁQë - 5 & 7 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ªÁ¥À¸ï ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆjUÉ PÁgÀÄ ¸ÀªÉÄÃvÀ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¹, C£ÀAvÀgÀ ®°vÁ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÁQë-2 gÀªÀgÀ ªÀÄ£ÉUÉ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÉÆÃV zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀPÉÌ ºÉÆÃV §gÀĪÀÅzÁV w½¹ ¸ÁQë - 3 gÀªÀgÀ ¨Á§ÄÛ KA-42/EF- 9514 ¨ÉÊPï£ÀÄß ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ®°vÁ gÀªÀgÀ PÉƯÉUÉ ¸ÁQë 14 gÀªÀgÀ CAUÀrAiÀÄ°è lªÀ¯ï Rjâ¹ £ÀAvÀgÀ ®°vÁ¼À£ÀÄß ¨ÉÊQ£À°è PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ WÀ£À £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄzÀ ªÀiÁUÀr ¥Éưøï oÁuÁ ¸ÀgÀºÀzÀÄÝ gÁªÀÄ£ÀUÀgÀ f¯Éè, ªÀiÁUÀr vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ, PÀ¸À¨Á ºÉÆç½, ºÀÆdUÀ®Äè UÁæªÀÄzÀ°è£À ¸ÀªÉð £ÀA.98 ¸ÀPÁðj UÉÆêÀiÁ¼ÀzÀ°ègÀĪÀ §AqÉ §¸ÀªÀtÚ zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ §½UÉ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ §A¢zÀÄÝ F ªÉÆzÀ¯Éà M¼À¸ÀAZÀÄ gÀƦ¹zÀAvÉ C°èUÉ J2, J3, J4 & J5 DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÀÄ C°èUÉ §A¢zÀÄÝ, ¸ÀAeÉ ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ 6-30 UÀAmɬÄAzÀ 7-00 UÀAmÉAiÀÄ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è ¸ÀªÀtÂðAiÀÄ d£ÁAUÀPÉÌ ¸ÉÃjzÀ J5 DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 AiÀiÁgÁzÀgÀÆ §gÀÄvÁÛgÁ JAzÀÄ £ÉÆÃrPÉƼÀî®Ä ¤AwzÀÄÝ, ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÀå¼À£ÀÄß zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ ªÀÄÄAzÉ ¥ÁæxÀð£É ªÀiÁqÀĪÀAvÉ PÀÆj¹ J2, J3 & J4 DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÉÆA¢UÉ J1 DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ®°vÁ @ ¢ªÀå¼À£ÀÄß PÉÆ¯É ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ GzÉÝñÀ¢AzÀ lªÀ¯ï¤AzÀ PÀÄwÛUÉUÉ fÃjzÁUÀ DPÉAiÀÄÄ C°èAiÉÄà MzÁÝr ¸ÀvÀÄÛ ºÉÆÃVzÀÄÝ, £ÀAvÀgÀ PÀÈvÀåªÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄgÉ ªÀiÁZÀĪÀ GzÉÝñÀ¢AzÀ F ªÉÆzÀ¯Éà M¼À¸ÀAZÀÄ gÀƦ¹zÀAvÉ ªÀÄÈvÀzÉúÀ£ÀÄß §AqÉ §¸ÀªÀtÚ zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ §½¬ÄAzÀ aîÆgÀÄ UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸ÀªÉð £ÀA.105 gÀ ¸Á°UÀ®Äè CgÀtå ¥ÀæzÉñÀPÉÌ vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÉÆÃV CgÀtå E¯ÁSÉAiÀĪÀgÀÄ vÉUɹzÀ EAUÀÄ UÀÄArUÉ ºÉtªÀ£ÀÄß ºÁQ ªÀÄtÂÚ¤AzÀ ªÀÄÄaÑ ºÁQ ¸ÁPÀëöå £Á±À ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ vÀ¤SɬÄAzÀ zsÀÈqÀ¥ÀnÖgÀÄvÀÛzÉ." 7. This Court has granted bail to accused 5 in Crl.A.39/2025 dated 12.06.2025. The Trial Court has granted bail to accused 3 and 4 in Crl.Misc.No.306/2025 dated 30.05.2025. The role of accused 3 and 4 and accused 2 in alleged crime, are one and the same. The order passed by the Trial Court in Crl.Misc.No.306/2025 has not been challenged by the State. 8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the role of accused 2/appellant herein and also on the ground of principle of parity, it is just and proper to release the accused on bail imposing conditions. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following: - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 O R D E R i) The appeal is allowed. ii) The order dated 01.08.2025 in Crl.Misc.No.557/2025 passed by the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ramanagara, is set aside. iii) Consequently, the application filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 is allowed subject to following conditions: a. The appellant/accused 2 shall be released on bail on executing self-bond of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court in Spl.C.C.No.164/2024 on the file of I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ramanagara. b. The appellant/accused 2 shall not tamper or threaten the prosecution witnesses in any manner. c. The appellant/accused 2 shall appear before the Trial Court on all the dates of hearing as and when required. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41964 CRL.A No. 2001 of 2025 d. Registry is directed to send copy of this order to the Trial Court for taking necessary action. Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE DHA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 20