- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3133 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC)/483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. H. R. PUTTAPPA S/O LATE RUDRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 76 YEARS, AGRICULTURIST, R/O HIREKANAVANGALA VILLAGE, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT – 577-101. 2. SMT. LALITHAMMA, W/O H.R. PUTTAPPA, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, R/O HIREKANAVANGALA VILLAGE, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT – 577 101. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VIJETHA R NAIK., ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH AJJAMPURA PS REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. ANITHA GIRISH N., HCGP) THIS CRL.P FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION, ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN S.C.NO.15/2026 (CRIME NO.268/2025) REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT AJJAMPURA POLICE STATION, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 103(1), 49, 3(5) OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, CHIKKAMAGALURU. 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:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 are before this Court seeking for grant of regular bail in SC.No.15/2026 (arising out of Cr.No.268/2025) pending on the file of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chikkamagaluru for the offence under Sections 103(1), 49 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Brief facts of the case: 2. The case of the prosecution is that the father of the deceased namely, Shivakumara lodged a complaint stating that his daughter Smt.Tanuja married to Ramesh in the year 2018. The couple had a son of 06 years and they were living happily. It is alleged that the petitioners and the son-in-law of the complainant was harassing his daughter Tanuja on one or the other pretext. After having learnt that his daughter was not happy in her matrimonial home, a panchayath was held by the complainant. As per the instruction of the well-wishers and elders, son-in-law and his daughter were allowed to stay separately in a farmhouse. It is further alleged that his son-in- law was in the habit of consuming alcohol every day. Therefore, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 he was asked to join De-Addiction Centre and accordingly, he got admitted to the said hospital. After coming from the said De-Addiction Centre, he was advised by his family members that he should not live along with his wife. Consequently, accused No.1 being the son-in-law of the complainant was not living properly with the daughter of the complainant. 3. It is further alleged that accused No.1 was not taking proper care of the daughter of the complainant. Therefore, a case has been filed against the son-in-law for maintenance. The Court has passed an order to pay Rs.4,000/- per month. Being annoyed by the said order passed by the Court, all the persons were not happy about the development. Such being the fact, accused No.1 being husband of the deceased used to visit the house of his wife and asked her to take back all the cases and he had expressed his intention to stay with her happily. The complainant learnt about the said development through his deceased daughter. Such being the fact, on 15.10.2025 around about 09.30 p.m., a person named Kumar, who is a resident of Hirekanavangala had informed the complainant that his daughter had been killed. The complainant - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 and his family members went to the farmhouse where his daughter was residing and saw that his daughter was lying in the pool of blood in the said house. 4. The complainant further learnt that his son-in-law had killed his daughter and fled away from the spot. Based on the said information, the complainant lodged a complaint before the respondent-police. The respondent-police after conducting investigation submitted the charge sheet. 5. Heard Sri. Ravi B. Naik, learned Senior counsel for Smt.Vijetha R. Naik, learned counsel for the petitioners and Smt. Anitha Girish N., learned HCGP for respondent-State. 6. It is the submission of learned counsel for the petitioners that the petitioners are in-laws of the deceased Tanuja. It is alleged that said Tanuja had been killed by her husband who is arrayed as accused No.1. The allegations made against the petitioners are that they instigated the accused No.1 to commit murder of the deceased. However, the said allegations are baseless and bald. Moreover, the petitioners are aged about 76 years and 57 years, respectively and they are - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 having a deep root in the society and they are the permanent residents of Hirekanavangala Village, Ajjampura Taluk. They will abide by the conditions imposed by this Court in the event of their release on bail. Making such submissions, he prays to allow the petition. 7. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent-State vehemently submitted that the petitioners being the in-laws of the deceased Tanuja had instigated accused No.1, who is their son to commit murder of their daughter-in-law. Accordingly, the son of the petitioners killed his wife. The offence committed by the petitioners and others are serious in nature and also it is considered as heinous offence. Hence, it is not appropriate to grant them bail. Making such submissions, she prays to reject the petition. 8. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the averments of the complaint and also the charge sheet. It is alleged in the charge sheet that the daughter of the complainant namely, Tanuja, married accused No.1 in the year 2018. She was residing along with her in-laws in their house. It is further alleged that there was a strained relationship existed - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 between the in-laws and deceased Smt.Tanuja. Accused No.1 being husband was not taking proper care of his deceased wife Smt.Tanuja and her son. Consequently, a panchayath was held and they were advised to live separately. In the meantime, accused No.1 got admitted to the De-addiction Centre for his addiction of alcohol. After he came out from the said centre, he did not mend his ways and he was not taking proper care of the deceased Tanuja. Consequently, she had to approach the Court for maintenance. The Court has ordered Rs.4,000/- per month to be payable to her. This development has enraged the accused No.1 and others to commit murder of the deceased. It is alleged that the present petitioners have instigated the accused No.1 to commit the murder of his wife. 9. On reading the averments of the complaint and also the charge sheet, I am of the considered opinion that the petitioners have made out a case to grant them bail. It is needless to state that the merit of the case while granting the bail not required to be mentioned in the said petition. 10. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioners are ordered to be enlarged on bail in SC.No.15/2026 (arising out of Cr.No.268/2025) pending on the file of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chikkamagaluru for the offence under Sections 103(1), 49 r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, on executing personal bond in 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 petitioners shall not threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses nor hamper the proceedings of the Court. (iv) The petitioners shall appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail. (v) The petitioners shall not involve in any criminal cases till disposal of the case. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15998 CRL.P No. 3133 of 2026 In case, the petitioners violate 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.: 40