- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13211 CRL.P No. 260 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 260 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SRI.SURESH B D S/O DEVE GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, R/AT BERANAGODU VILLAGE, KANATHI POST, BASARAVALLI, AVATHI HOBLI, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT – 577 101. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. H.R. SANTHOSH.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA STATE BY TOWN POLICE, CHIKKAMAGALURU REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT BUILDING – 560 001. 2. SMT. KUMUDA C. W/O. BANDI AGARWAL, DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST OFFICE, VENKATESHWARA NAGAR, Digitally signed by SREEDHARAN BANGALORE SUSHMA LAKSHMI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13211 CRL.P No. 260 of 2026 KADUR, CHIKKAMAGALURU – 577 548. 3. SRI. INDRESH B. CONSERVATOR OF FOREST OFFICE, VENKATESHWARA NAGAR, KADUR, CHIKKAMAGALURU – 577 548. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, HCGP FOR R1; NOTICES TO R2 & R3 ARE SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS CRIMINAL PETITION AND GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CRIME NO.214/2025 REGISTERED BY CHIKKAMAGALURU TOWN POLICE STATION UNDER SECTION 352, 351(2), 132, 126(2) R/W SECTION 3(5) OF BNSS BEFORE THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (SR.DN) AND CJM COURT, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT, CHIKKAMAGALURU AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13211 CRL.P No. 260 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. This petition is filed by the petitioner herein who is arrayed as accused No.1 in Crime No.214/2025 for the offences punishable under Section 352, 351(2), 132, 126(2), 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short BNS). Factual matrix of the case: 2. The case of the prosecution is that, the complainant was working as First Division Assistant at Deputy Conservator of Forest Office, Chikkamagaluru. On 12.12.2025 at about 4.30 p.m., the petitioner herein had visited the Forest Office and questioned the complainant regarding movement of file which relates to the vehicle seized under the forest offences. The complainant replied that he should approach higher officials. In the mean time, the petitioner herein started quarreling with the complainant by using filthy language stating that he was Congress worker and locked the front door of the office and threatened the complainant to take away her life. The petitioner abused her in a filthy language and prevented the complainant from discharging her official duty. The petitioner herein and another person namely G.B. Pavan - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13211 CRL.P No. 260 of 2026 threatened other officials and also assaulted them. Hence, this complaint. 3. Heard Sri. H.R. Santosh, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri. Rangaswamy R., learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1-State. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner had applied for release of vehicle before the Deputy Conservator of Forest Office, Chikkamagaluru. The petitioner wanted to ask the complainant to send the file to the higher officials. The complainant had not responded properly. Consequently, there was an altercation between the complainant and the petitioner. The complainant taking the advantage that she is an official, filed a false case against the petitioner in order to implicate the petitioner in a false case. Therefore, the petitioner may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. Making such submissions learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition. 5. Per Contra learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent vehemently submits that the averments of the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13211 CRL.P No. 260 of 2026 complaint would indicate that there are serious allegations made against the petitioner and another. They had deterred the Government Officials from discharging their official duties effectively and peacefully. If, the petitioner is enlarged on bail the morality of the Government Officials would be defeated. Therefore, the petitioner is not entitled for any relief as prayed for. Making such submissions learned High Court Government Pleader prays to reject the petition. 6. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the averments of the complaint. It appears from the complaint that, the complainant was working as First Division Assistant at Deputy Conservator of Forest Office, Chikkamagaluru and the petitioner is stated to have filed an application for release of the vehicle involving in the forest offence case. The petitioner had questioned the complainant and others to send the files and also threatened and assaulted by saying that he was the Congress worker. Pressurizing the officials in such a rude manner and trying to over power them by saying that they belong to political party, should not be encouraged. There is a way to approach the officials to get their - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13211 CRL.P No. 260 of 2026 work done in the public department. In the present case, the petitioner behaved rudely and threatened the dire consequences of the officials and frightened them by saying uttering words which are derogatory in nature. Therefore, it is not appropriate to grant bail. 7. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. This Criminal Petition stands rejected. Sd/- (S RACHAIAH) JUDGE NM