- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20548 CRL.P No. 11792 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO.11792 OF 2025 (439(2)(Cr.PC) / 483(3)(BNSS) BETWEEN: M/S. NEWSPACE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD. A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT 2ND FLOOR, GV TOWERS, SAHAKAR NAGAR, SANJEEVINI NAGAR, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA - 560092 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY, MR. BHAVANA VIJAYAKUMAR …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ANGAD KAMATH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH CEN CRIME POLICE STATION, NORTHEAST DIVISION, BENGALURU NOW, BY CHIEF INVESTIGATION OFFICER, SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM, REP. BY HIGH COURT PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE -560 001 2. MRS. GARIMA SHARMA W/O PRABHAT SHARMA, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.L-58, Digitally signed by MALATESH K C Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20548 CRL.P No. 11792 of 2025 SECTOR-11, NOIDA, GAUTAM, BUDDHA NAGAR, UTTAR PRADESH-201301 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI I.S.PRAMOD CHANDRA, SPL.PP ALONGWITH SMT.PUSHPALATHA.B, ADDL. SPP FOR R1; R2 NOTICE NOT ISSUED FOR WANT OF PF) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439(2) CR.PC (FILED U/S 483(3) BNSS) SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 13.01.2025 PASSED BY THE LD. LVI ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU (CCH-56) IN CRL.MISC.P. 11937/2024 WHEREBY RESPONDENT NO.2 (ACCUSED NO.4- MRS. GARIMA SHARMA) WAS GRANTED ANTICIPATORY BAIL CRIME NO.1025/2024 REGISTERED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT - NORTH - EAST DIVISION CEN CRIME POLICE STATION, BENGALURU FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 318(2), 318(3), AND 318(4) OF BNS 2023, AND SEC. 66, 66B, AND 66C OF THE I.T. ACT, 2000 AS ANNEXURE-A AND ETC,. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V SRISHANANDA - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20548 CRL.P No. 11792 of 2025 ORAL ORDER Case called out. Investigating Officer is present before the Court. 2. Under the instructions of Sri I.S. Pramodchandra, learned Special Public Prosecutor for respondent No.1, Investigating Officer files a memo which reads as under: “It is humbly submitted on behalf of Respondent No.1 as follows:- 1. It is submitted that the Petitioner has filed by the above Petition seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Accused No.4, by the learned XLV Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru City, at Bengaluru vide Order dated 10.01.2025. 2. It is submitted that this Hon'ble Court, while hearing the Writ Petition No. 8403/2025 filed by the Petitioner herein, was pleased to order for constituting a Special Investigation Team to investigate the case registered in Cr. No. 1025/2024 of CEN Police Station, North East Division, Bengaluru City, on the basis of the first information lodged by the Petitioner herein, vide Order dated 25.04.2025. 3. It is submitted that after such Order, a S.I.T. was formed on 13.05.2025 and the investigation from the erstwhile Police Station was taken up by the S.I.T. with effect from 20.05.2025. Subsequently, the investigation has been - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20548 CRL.P No. 11792 of 2025 continued by the S.I.T. Status of the Investigation carried out has been brought to the notice of this Hon'ble Court, from time to time in the said Writ Petition, which is also pending. 4. It is submitted that the Investigation by the S.I.T. is almost complete but relevant information from Bitbucket repository, which is the Service Provider, based in the United States is yet to be received. The relevant information sought from the said Agency is being pursued through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). and is not under the control of the S.I.T or the State or Central Agencies. The Complainant / Petitioner herein has been notified to provide certain information/documents as required under the Evidence Act. 5. It is submitted that once the said information is received, from MLAT, and the relevant information from the Complainant is received, the I.O would seek the Expert Opinion as required under Sec. 45A of the Evidence Act / Sec. 39(2) of the Bharathiya Sakshya Adhiniyama, 2023. The information sought from the Service Provider as stated above and clarifications if any, are expected to be completed within 30-45 days from today and upon such receipt, the I.O. expects to get the Expert Opinion and file the Final Report within the 10-15 days therefrom. As such, the I.O expects to complete the same within a maximum period of 50-60 days and file the Final Report within the said period of 60 days from today. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20548 CRL.P No. 11792 of 2025 WHEREFORE, it is humbly prayed that this Hon'ble Court to take this Memo on record and pass appropriate Orders in the matter, in the interest of justice and equity.” 3. In order to find out the reasons for delay in filing the charge sheet, this Court directed Sri I.S. Pramochandra to keep the head of the CID to be present and so also Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home Department, Sri Tushar Giri Nath. 4. Sri Tushar Giri Nath has appeared through Video Conferencing. 5. No doubt the investigation got delayed on account of transfer of Investigation Officer. Perhaps the higher police officials who effected the transfer of the Investigation Officer were not aware of the fact that the Special Investigation Team was formed as per the directions of the judicial order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court. 6. To ensue that the charge sheet is filed in time, it is just and necessary for this Court to direct that the Investigation Officer shall not be transferred till filing of the charge sheet. In case of any administrative exigency, the Investigation Officer if transfers before taking the charge in the new post shall ensure - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20548 CRL.P No. 11792 of 2025 that he would file the charge sheet and then take the charge in the new post. 7. With these directions, all the apprehensions of the petitioner stands quelled. 8. Accordingly, the following: ORDER *Criminal Petition stands disposed of. SD/- (V SRISHANANDA) JUDGE MR, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9 *Corrected vide order dated 05.05.2026