- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38981 CRL.P No. 13125 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13125 OF 2025 BETWEEN: SRI. NAGESH H.S. S/O. LATE SUBBEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, BILL COLLECTOR, MARUKANAHALLI VILLAGE PANCHAYATH, K.R. PETE TALUK, MANDYA-571 426. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHIVARAMU H.C., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, LOKAYUKTHA POLICE, MANDYA. HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. VENKATESH S. ARBATTI, SPL. PP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.7/2025, OF LOKAYUKTA POLICE STATION, PENDING CONSIDERATION ON THE FILE OF III ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, MANDYA (SITTING AT SRIRANGAPATNA). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38981 CRL.P No. 13125 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ ORAL ORDER Petitioner/accused No.2 has preferred this petition under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge him on bail in Crime No.7/2025 registered by the Lokayukta Police Station, Mandya, for the offence punishable under Section 7(a) of PC Act, 1988 (Amendment Act, 2018). 2. Heard both sides and perused the material on record. 3. In brief, it is the case of prosecution that accused No.1 is working as a Panchayat Development Officer at Murukanahalli Village Panchayat, K.R.Pete Taluk, Mandya District. The complainant had acquired certain property through a partition. It is alleged, when he approached accused No.1 for the purpose of mutation of revenue entries, he demanded a bribe of Rs.45,000/-. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38981 CRL.P No. 13125 of 2025 4. Based on the complaint, aforementioned case was registered against accused No.1 and a trap was laid on 13.08.2025. Petitioner, working as a Bill collector received the tainted currency of Rs.20,000/- from the complainant. He retained a sum of Rs.1,000/- and handed over Rs.19,000/- to accused No.1. Both the accused were arrested and the tainted currency was recovered from their possession. 5. Learned counsel for respondent has filed statement of objections and vehemently opposed the prayer for bail. 6. In the complaint, petitioner is not named as an accused. It is alleged that when the complainant approached the Office of Village Panchayat, Murukanahalli for the purpose of mutation of revenue entries, accused No.1 demanded a bribe of Rs.45,000/-. As per mahazar, a sum of Rs.20,000/- was received by the petitioner, working as a Bill Collector and he handed over Rs.19,000/- - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38981 CRL.P No. 13125 of 2025 to accused No.1. when trap was laid, a sum of Rs.1,000/- was found in his possession. The same was recovered. 7. The prosecution case rests on the statements of the complainant, shadow witness, entrustment and trap mahazars, the recorded conversation and the resultant hand wash of the accused. Major part of the investigation has been completed. Petitioner has no bad antecedents. He has been in custody since 13.08.2025. Accused No.1 has been enlarged on bail in Crl.P No.12658/2025 dated 18.09.2025. Hence, the following: ORDER i. Petition is allowed. ii. Petitioner/accused No.2 in Crime No.7/2025 of Lokayukta Police Station, Mandya, shall be enlarged on bail, subject to following conditions: 1. He shall execute a personal bond in a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38981 CRL.P No. 13125 of 2025 likesum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. 2. He shall furnish proof of his residential address and shall inform the Court, if there is change in the address. 3. 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. 4. He shall appear before the trial Court regularly on all effective dates of hearing. Violation of condition/s shall result in cancellation of bail. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE HB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 34