- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29554 CRL.A No. 282 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 282 OF 2025 U/S 14(A) (2)) BETWEEN: KEERTHI S/O. VENKATESH AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS PERMANENT RESIDENT OF KAMATAGERI, 2ND STAGE 2ND STREET, MANDI MOHALLA MYSURU, KARNATAKA - 570 021 (NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY) UTP NO. 1416 …APPELLANT (BY SRI. SUNIL KUMAR S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY GUBBI P.S. REP. BY LEARNED STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING COMPLEX BENGALURU -560 001 2. SRI MANOJ KUMAR G N S/O.NARASIMAMURTHY G C @KURIMURTHY AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS R/A. OLD AK COLONY GUBBI TOWN, TUMKURU KARNATAKA - 572 129 …RESPONDENTS Digitally signed by SREEDHARAN BANGALORE SUSHMA LAKSHMI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29554 CRL.A No. 282 of 2025 (BY SMT.RASHMI PATEL, HCGP FOR R1; R2 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 14(A)2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 10.01.2025 IN SPL.C.C.NO.2877/2022 PASSED BY THE HONBLE PRL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU AND ENLARGE THE APPELLANT/ ACCUSED NO.7 ON BAIL IN CR.NO.131/2022 OF GUBBI P.S.FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 109,120(B),143,147,148,212,302,201 R/W 149 OF IPC AND SEC.3(2)(V) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT AND SEC.3(1)(i)(2)(3)(4) OF KCOCA -2000 WHICH IS NOW PENDING BEFORE THE HON’BLE COURT OF THE PRL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE BENGALURU IN SPL.C.C.NO.2877.2022. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH ORAL JUDGMENT This appeal is filed by accused No.7, seeking for regular bail for the offences punishable under Sections 109, 120(B), 143, 147, 148, 212, 302, 201 read with Section 149 of I.P.C and Section 3(2)(V) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (POA) Act and also Sections 3(1)(i)(2)(3)(4) of KCOCA-2000. 2. It is the case of the prosecution that on 27.04.2022 at about 8.00 P.M. accused No.1 along with other accused had joined for dinner in Sy.No.93 of Bikkegudda Village in Gubbi - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29554 CRL.A No. 282 of 2025 Taluk and entered into criminal conspiracy to murder the deceased. It is further alleged that all the accused have committed murder of Narasimhamurthy. 3. The entire case is based on the statement of accused No.1, who is a co-accused in this case. The said statements has to be rejected for the reason that the statement made by the accused against the co-accused when he was in judicial custody cannot be accepted. Moreover, the overt-act against the appellant has not forthcoming properly in the charge-sheet. Therefore, he may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. 4. Per Contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader submitted that the other accused who killed the deceased Narasimhamurthy conspired together and the appellant was one of the main accused involved in the said incident. Therefore, he is not entitled for any relief. 5. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and also perused the order of rejection passed by the Trial Court, it appears from the record that the accused No.7 is - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29554 CRL.A No. 282 of 2025 stated to have assaulted the deceased with the long machete on the right rib of the deceased. 6. Though, the said allegations made against him in the charge-sheet, the fact remains that, the entire story narrated by accused No.1 against other accused. Therefore, I am of the considered opinion that the appellant may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions that will take care of apprehension of the prosecution. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. The Criminal Appeal is allowed. ii. The appellant is enlarged on bail on executing the personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety to the like sum of the satisfaction of the Trial Court. iii. The appellant shall mark his attendance before the respondent-Police on every fifteen days once till conclusion of the Trial. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29554 CRL.A No. 282 of 2025 iv. The appellant shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses nor hamper the proceedings of the Court. v. The appellant shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Court till disposal of the case. Sd/- (S RACHAIAH) JUDGE NM List No.: 2 Sl No.: 1