- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11930 CRL.P No. 17589 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 26TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17589 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. AKASH GOWDA H P S/O PRAKASH H A AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS. 2. PRAKASH H A S/O LATE APPAJIGOWDA AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS BOTH ARE RESIDENTS OF No. 492/B, KESHAVA NILAYA 7TH CROSS, GANDHINAGAR MANDYA CITY – 571 401. OWN VILLAGE- HONAGANAHALLI VILLAGE KASABA HOBLI MANDYA TALUK AND DISTRICT. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI HEMANTH KUMAR K, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MANDYA WEST POLICE STATION, MANDYA REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDINGS BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI MOHD. AYUB ALI, ADDL. SPP) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11930 CRL.P No. 17589 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 Cr.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONERS ON BAIL IN CR.No.176/2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT / MANDYA WEST P.S. FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 109, 115(2), 126(2), 118(1), 127(2), 132, 190, 189(2), 352, 351(3) OF BNS 2023. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by accused Nos.2 and 3 under Section 483 of BNSS praying to grant bail in Crime No.176/2025 of Mandya West Police Station, registered for offences under Section 109, 115(2), 126(2), 118(1), 127(2), 132, 190, 189(2), 352, 351(3) of BNS. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Additional SPP for respondent/State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that the allegation against the accused persons as per averments of the complaint, is that accused No.1 assaulted with wooden reaper on the head of the injured and caused bleeding injury and accused No.2 assaulted - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11930 CRL.P No. 17589 of 2025 him with brick on his head. Even though there are two assaults by accused Nos.1 and 2 respectively, but the wound certificate indicates only one injury. There is no overt act alleged against petitioner No.2/accused No.3. The petitioners are in judicial custody since 08.12.2025 and as major portion of the investigation is over, they are not required for custodial interrogation. The injury sustained by the injured is stated to be simple in nature. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned Additional SPP would contend that the injured is a meter reader who came to the house of the petitioners for his work to record the reading in the meter. As the meter was not properly working, the first informant asked the accused persons to get it repaired or replaced. For that the accused persons have assaulted the first informant with wooden reaper and brick and caused injury. The wound certificate indicates that the injured has sustained lacerated wound over the occipital region - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11930 CRL.P No. 17589 of 2025 measuring 3 x 0.6 cms. If the petitioners are granted bail, there are chances of they hampering the investigation and tampering the prosecution witnesses. With this he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsels, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. As per averments of the complaint, the first informant went to the house of accused No.3 for meter reading and on coming to know that meter is not properly working he told accused No.3 to get the meter repaired/replaced and enraged by that accused No.1 assaulted the first informant with wooden reaper on his head and caused bleeding injury and accused No.2 assaulted with a brick on his head and accused No.1 kicked on his private part. Even though there is allegation that both accused Nos.1 and 2 assaulted on the head, there is only one injury on the head. The petitioners are in judicial custody since 08.12.2025 and as the major portion - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11930 CRL.P No. 17589 of 2025 of the investigation is over, they are not required for further custodial interrogation. The wound certificate indicates that the injury is simple in nature. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. 7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioners have made out a case for grant of bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioners are granted bail in Crime No.176/2025 of Mandya West Police Station, subject to following conditions: (i) Petitioners shall execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each, with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. (ii) Petitioners shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11930 CRL.P No. 17589 of 2025 (iii) Petitioners shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing and co-operate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DKB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29 Ct.sm