- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17577 CRL.P No. 4966 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4966 OF 2026 BETWEEN: YOGESH A., SON OF ANAND K., AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS, R/O 12, 1ST MAIN ROAD, THUNGABADRA SLUM, VASANTHNAGAR, BENGALURU NORTH , BENGALURU – 560 001. PRESENTLY INCARCERATION IN BANGALORE CENTRAL PRISON, PARAPPAN AGRAHARA, SINCE 29/01/2026. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MOHAMMED ABRAR.S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY HIGH GROUNDS POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU – 01. Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17577 CRL.P No. 4966 of 2026 2. SMT. SITADEVI BIST, W/O RAVI SHING, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO. 17, 10TH CROSS A RESIDENCE, VASANTANAGARA, BENGALURU CITY – 560 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.N.JAGADEESHA, ADDL. SPP A/W SRI. RAHUL RAI K., HCGP FOR R1; SRI. MOHAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 483 BNSS PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO. 272/2025, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF THE POCSO ACT AND SECTION 137(2) OF THE BNS, ACT 2023, REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 POLICE (HIGH GROUNDS POLICE STATION) DATED 30/12/2025, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HON’BLE ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE (FTSC-IV) AT BANGALORE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17577 CRL.P No. 4966 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner-sole accused is before the court seeking himself to be set on liberty, as he is now in custody for offences punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of POCSO Act and 137(2) of BNS. 2. Heard Sri.Mohammed Abrar S., learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri.B.N.Jagadeeseha, learned Addl. SPP appearing for the respondent-State and Sri.Mohan Kumar, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2 and have perused the material on record. 3. The petitioner gets embroiled in a crime in Crime No.272/2025. The crime emerges on a missing complaint given by the second respondent that her daughter has gone missing, only to find that her daughter and the petitioner were in love and the relationship between the two had developed into physical relationship. This results in the petitioner, a boy of 19 years being taken into custody. The statement of the victim is that, she was never sad in life, she is going with the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17577 CRL.P No. 4966 of 2026 petitioner, she is happy with the petitioner and go along with Yogesh, the petitioner. The parties to the lis had knocked at the doors of this Court seeking settlement between them and closure of the crime by way of recording the settlement. This Court declined to accept the settlement and closure of the case, owing to the facts obtaining therein, as the closure was sought on the ground that the petitioner and the victim are going to get married. The victim today is 17 years and 6 months. Therefore, the petition is not entertained for closure of the proceedings. The subject petition is preferred seeking to set the petitioner at liberty. 4. As observed the petitioner is 19 years old, is in love with the victim and victim is in love with the petitioner. The statement of the victim is indicative of the said fact. Therefore, the petitioner has not indulged in forceful sexual assault upon the victim, prima facie. In such circumstances, a boy of 19 years old is inside the prison along with other accused or convicts, it would have a serious impact on the psyche of the boy. In the light of the aforesaid circumstance, I deem appropriate to set the petitioner at liberty imposing stringent conditions. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17577 CRL.P No. 4966 of 2026 5. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: O R D E R (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner shall be enlarged on bail in connection with Crime No.272/2025 registered before High Grounds Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of POCSO Act and 137(2) of BNS, subject to the following conditions: (a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the like-sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional court. (b) The petitioner shall not threaten or allure the prosecution witnesses in whatsoever manner. (c) The petitioner shall appear before the jurisdictional Court on all future hearing dates, unless exempted by the concerned Court. Page No.05 is retyped and replaced vide chamber order dated 06.04.2026 - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17577 CRL.P No. 4966 of 2026 (d) The petitioner shall not get involved in similar offences. (e) The petitioner shall not leave the territorial limits of the trial Court without prior permission of the trial Court. (f) The prosecution is at liberty to seek cancellation of bail, in the event of any violation, of the aforesaid conditions. (g) Registry is directed to Communicate the order to the prison authorities, forthwith. Ordered accordingly. Hand delivery of the order is permitted. SD/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE CBC List No.: 5 Sl No.: 1 Page No.06 is retyped and replaced vide chamber order dated 06.04.2026