- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46387 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13629 OF 2025 [(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)] BETWEEN: 1. SMT REVATHI W/O PRAVEEN KUMAR YADAV, AGE ABOUT 30 YEARS, PUNDUNAGARA, COWDALLI GRAMA, CHAMARAJANAGARA, KOLLEGALA, KARNATAKA - 571 444. 2. SRI PRAVEEN KUMAR YADAV S/O MALLAIAH, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, #64, PUDUNAGARA, COWDALLI, CHAMARAJANAGARA, KOLLEGALA, KARNATAKA - 571 440. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. RAKESH B.C. ADVOCATE FOR SRI. HONNAPPA S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA POLICE STATION, CHAMARAJNAGAR, REP. BY SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, M.S.BUILDING COMPLEX, BENGALURU. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. MANISH, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. B.B.PATIL, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46387 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.P.C (UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION AND TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONERS ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN CRIME NO.2/2025 REGISTERED BY THE LOKAYUKTHA POLICE STATION, CHAMARAJANAGAR, FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 7A AND 7(b) OF P.C ACT, 1988, PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, CHAMARAJANAGAR. 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 accused Nos.1 and 2 under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.2/2025 of Lokayuktha Police Station, Chamarajangar, registered for offences punishable under Sections 7A and 7(b) of Prevention of Corruption Act. 2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioners and learned counsel for respondent - State. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46387 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2025 3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that, petitioner No.1 is a President in Cowdalli Grama Panchayath and petitioner No.2 is the husband of petitioner No.1. The complainant who is an electrician has submitted bills and a total amount claimed in the said bills is Rs.1,60,000/. Prior to filing of the complaint, the said bills were cleared by eleven (11) vouchers and more than Rs.1,56,000/- has been paid to the complainant. There is no demand of bribe by petitioner No.1. Petitioner No.1 is elected President of Cowdalli Grama Panchayath and there is a political rivalry and therefore false complaint has been lodged against the petitioners. There is a private transaction of borrowing and lending and for that, the complainant has transferred Rs.30,000/- to the account of petitioner No.2. The petitioners are ready to cooperate with the Investigating Officer and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46387 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2025 4. Learned counsel for respondent would contend that, the phone conversation contains demand and acceptance which has been recorded in the mobile of the complainant. The authenticity of the vouchers produced by the petitioners requires consideration. The petitioners have not responded to the notice issued by the Investigating Officer. The petitioners are required for interrogation. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsel appearing for parties, the Court has perused the FIR, compliant and other materials placed on record. 6. Petitioner No.1 is a President of Cowdalli Grama Panchayath and petitioner No.2 is the husband of petitioner No.1. A complaint has been filed against the petitioners on the ground that, they demanded bribe for clearing the bills submitted by the complainant to the tune of Rs.1,60,000/. The complainant is an electrician and he is stated to have carried out the repair of ten (10) - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46387 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2025 borewell pumpsets for which he submitted the bills. The President of the Grama Panchayath is having authority to clear the said bills. 7. On perusal of eleven (11) vouchers produced by learned counsel for petitioner, clearly discloses the payments to the account of the complainant to the tune of more than Rs.1,56,000/- prior to 12.08.2025. The complaint has been filed on 16.08.2025 and demand is stated to have been made on 15.08.2025 which is prior to filing of the complaint. The petitioners have undertaken to cooperate with the police in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. 8. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioners have made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46387 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2025 ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioners are granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.2/2025 of Lokayuktha Police Station, Chamarajangar and are ordered to be released on bail in the event their arrest, subject to following conditions: i) The petitioners shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) each with one surety for the like-sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. ii) The petitioners shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within 10 days from this day and execute bail bond and furnish surety. iii) The petitioners shall cooperate with the Police in investigation and make themselves available for interrogation whenever required. iv) The petitioners shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement of threat or - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46387 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2025 promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case, so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any Police Officer or tamper with the evidence. v) The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 3