- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 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. 2052 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SMT. PUTTAMANI W/O LATE SWAMY, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, RESIDING AT ANASOSALU VILLAGE, BASARALU HOBLI, MANDYA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT, MANDYA – 571 401. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAJU C N.,ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY KERAGODU POLICE Digitally signed by SREEDHARAN BANGALORE SUSHMA LAKSHMI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 MANDYA, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE, PIN CODE – 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.01/2026 OF KERAGODU POLICE, MANDYA ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE (SR.DN) AND CJM COURT, MANDYA FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES U/S 108, 352, 3(5) OF BNS 2023 BY ALLOWING THIS PETITION 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:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner/accused No.1 is before this Court seeking for grant of regular bail in Crime No.1/2026 of respondent-Police for the offence punishable under Sections 108, 352 r/w with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Brief facts of the case: 2. The case of the prosecution is that, the husband of the complainant namely, Krishna was the Member of Gram Panchayat. The present petitioner was Ex-Member of Gram Panchayat. The husband of the complainant had recommended to change the khata in favour of a person, with whom the present petitioner had a dispute in respect of immovable property. The petitioner used to scold and harass the deceased Krishna on the said issue. Further, it is alleged that the deceased was scolded and threatened by the petitioner that the deceased would not be allowed to work in the said Gram Panchayat. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 3. On 29.12.2025, when the complainant had been to the house of her brother - Devaraju, on the following day, her husband Krishna had come to her brother’s house to take her back to his house. At that time, he had informed the complainant that the petitioner herein had lodged a complaint before the Police against the said Krishna that he had knocked the door of the house of the petitioner. The said Krishna was summoned by the Police and he was humiliated and insulted in front of others. 4. It is further stated that the complainant had consoled her husband and brought him back to the house. On 01.01.2026, again, the petitioner herein had started quarrelling with the husband of the complainant on one or the other pretext. Consequently, the husband of the complainant had committed suicide in the land which is adjacent to the Police Station. Hence, a complainant came to be registered against the petitioner herein. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 5. The respondent-Police on receiving the said complaint registered a case and conducted investigation. The investigation is still in progress. 6. Heard Sri.Raju C.N., learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri.Rangaswamy R., learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent-State. 7. It is the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is innocent of alleged offence and she has been falsely implicated in the case. The averments of the complaint would indicate that the deceased had knocked the door of the house of the petitioner during odd hours, being annoyed by the act of the deceased, she had lodged a complaint before the Police. The Police had summoned the deceased to the Police Station for clarification and enquiry. It is alleged that the deceased had committed suicide. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 8. It is further submitted that the petitioner is aged about 55 years and a permanent resident of Anasosalu Village, Mandya District. She will abide the conditions imposed by this Court in the event of her release on bail. Making such submissions, he prays to allow the petition. 9. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent - State vehemently submitted that there was constant dispute, continuous harassment and torture given to the deceased. The petitioner had committed suicide on account of said harassment. There is a nexus between constant harassment and death of the deceased. There are prima-facie materials available on record to indicate that the petitioner had committed heinous offence. Therefore, it is not appropriate to grant her bail. Making such submissions, he prays to reject the petition. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 10. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and on perusal of the averments of the complaint, it appears that the deceased-Krishna was working as a Member of Gram Panchayat, the petitioner was the Former Member of the said Gram Panchayat. The petitioner had a dispute in respect of immovable property with her relatives. However, the deceased Krishna being the Member of Gram Panchayat had recommended the relative of the petitioner to get the khata transferred in their name. 11. The petitioner being annoyed by the act of the deceased, she was scolding, harassing and abusing the deceased in a filthy language whenever the occasion arises. 12. It is alleged that on 01.01.2026, the petitioner herein again started quarrelling with the deceased and made a complaint against the deceased-Krishna before the Police for having knocked the door of her house during - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 night and at odd hours. The Police have summoned the deceased Krishna to appear before them for enquiry. It is noticed that he had been to the Police Station and thereafter, he had committed suicide in the land which is situated adjacent to the Police Station. 13. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case and also considered that the appellant is aged about 55 years and she is suffering from old aged ailments, it is appropriate to grant her bail without adverting to the merits of the case. 14. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is ordered to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.1/2026 of respondent-Police for the offence punishable under Sections 108, 352 r/w with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13214 CRL.P No. 2052 of 2026 on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. (iii) The petitioner shall not threaten or tamper the prosecution witnesses nor hamper the proceedings of the Court. (iv) The petitioner shall appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail. (v) The petitioner shall not involve in any criminal cases till disposal of the case. In case, if, the petitioner violates any of the bail conditions as stated above, liberty is reserved to the prosecution to file necessary application for cancellation of bail. Sd/- (S RACHAIAH) JUDGE NR/-List No.: 1 Sl No.: 48