- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:47156 CRL.P No. 13383 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13383 OF 2025 [(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)] BETWEEN: PUNITH PRASHANTH K. S/O KESHAVALU G. AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS, R/AT NO. 254, 5TH CROSS, FLOWER GARDEN, WATER TANK, CHAMARAJPET, BANGALORE - 560 018. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. VIDYASAGAR H., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. KEMPARAJU, ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHAMARAJPET POLICE STATION, REP. BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT COMPLEX, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO RELEASE/ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.140/2025 OF RESPONDENT CHAMRAJPET POLICE, FOR THE ALLEGED Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:47156 CRL.P No. 13383 of 2025 OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 108 OF BNS, PENDING ON THE FILE OF V ADDITIONAL CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE COURT, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD AT BENGALURU. 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 sole accused under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.140/2025 of Chamarajpet Police Station, registered for offence punishable under Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that, the petitioner has not abetted the deceased to - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:47156 CRL.P No. 13383 of 2025 commit suicide. The alleged voice message has been sent to the mobile phone of the husband of deceased and alleged phone call is also made to the husband. The petitioner has not sent any message or made a phone call to the deceased. Whether the act of the petitioner amounts to abetment or not is a matter of investigation and trial. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the police in the investigation. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent would contend that, the deceased who overheard the voice message and a phone call made by the petitioner to her husband, became depressed and committed suicide. The petitioner is required for interrogation. With these, she prayed for dismissal of the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:47156 CRL.P No. 13383 of 2025 5. Having heard the leaned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. The deceased committed suicide on 23.02.2025 and at that time, the father of the deceased filed UDR complaint and subsequently the husband of the deceased filed complaint on 05.06.2025 against this petitioner. There is a delay in filing the complaint and it has not been explained. Whether the alleged sending of voice message by the petitioner to the husband of the deceased and making alleged call which has been overheard by the deceased amounts to abetment or not is a matter of investigation and trial. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents. The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the police in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:47156 CRL.P No. 13383 of 2025 7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following; ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.140/2025 of Chamarajpet Police Station and is ordered to be released on bail in the event his arrest, subject to following conditions: i) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the like-sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. ii) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from this day and execute bail bond and furnish surety. iii) The petitioner shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:47156 CRL.P No. 13383 of 2025 iv) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for. v) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement of 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. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 49