- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7095 CRL.P No. 15460 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 15460 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. BASAVARAJU V S/O VENKATARAMNAYAK AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS 2. RACHAPPAJI @ RACHANAIKA S/O LATE SIDDANAIK AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS 3. KRISHNA @ KRISHNANAIKA S/O LATE BELLANAYAK AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS 4. MAHADEVANAYAKA @ MOODALSEEME MAHADEVANAYAKA S/O MADANAYAK AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS 5. SIDDARAJANAYAKA S/O KARINAIK AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS 6. MAHADEVANAYAKA S/O THIMMANAYAK AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS 7. SHIVANNANAYAKA S/O HONKARANAYAK AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7095 CRL.P No. 15460 of 2025 8. CHENNANAYAKA S/O LAKSHMANANAYAK AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS RESIDENT OF YADAVANAHALLI VILLAGE GUNDLUPETE TALUK CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT PIN-571 111 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. OMKAR MUTTAGI, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. SHARAS CHANDRA M, ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BENGUR P.S CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT (THROUGH THE S.P.P HIGH COURT PREMISES BENGALURU CITY-560 001) …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 OF CR.P.C (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF BNSS) PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 25.04.2025 IN CRL. MISC NO. 485/2024 AND ALSO ORDER DATED 25.04.2025 IN CRL. MISC NO.51/2025 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 306, 114, R/W SECTION 149 OF I.P.C AND ENLARGE THEM ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CONNECTION WITH THE CRIME NO. 201/2023 (CC NO.432/2024) TRIED FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 306, 114, R/W SECTION 149 OF I.P.C PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, GUNDLUPET, CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7095 CRL.P No. 15460 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER 1. This petition is filed by accused Nos. 10, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27 under Section 482 of BNSS praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No. 201/2023 of Beguru Police Station registered for offence under Sections 306, 114 read with Section 149 of IPC. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioners and learned HCGP for respondent – State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that the petitioners were not members of the panchayat. The allegation is that panchayat members had imposed fine on C.W.2 to C.W.4 for having assaulted each other with chappal and it was questioned by the deceased Shivaraju and to him also, fine has been imposed. Deceased is stated to have committed suicide as he had been insulted by imposition of fine. It is stated that the deceased has left a death note. Death note is not part of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7095 CRL.P No. 15460 of 2025 the chargesheet. Investigation is over and chargesheet is filed. Petitioners are not required for any custodial interrogation. The offence alleged against the petitioners is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. With this he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned HCGP would contend that the petitioners were members of the panchayat which imposed fine not only on C.W.2 to C.W.4 but also on the deceased. The deceased, as he was insulted by imposition of fine, left death note and committed suicide by hanging with a saree in the house. There is a prima facie case against the petitioners for offences alleged against them. With this, she prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, this Court has perused the chargesheet and other materials placed on record. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7095 CRL.P No. 15460 of 2025 6. The accusation in the chargesheet against the petitioners is that they were members of the panchayat and they have imposed fine on C.W.2 to C.W.4 for having assaulted each other with chappal. When deceased questioned them, they also imposed fine on the deceased. The deceased, being insulted by imposition of fine, left death note and committed suicide by hanging with a saree in the house. Whether the alleged act of the petitioners imposing fine on the deceased amounts abetment to commit suicide or not is a matter of trial. As chargesheet is filed petitioners are not required for custodial interrogation. The offence alleged against the petitioners is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. 7. Considering the above aspects, petitioners have made out case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7095 CRL.P No. 15460 of 2025 O R D E R Petition is allowed. Petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of their arrest in Crime No. 201/2023 of Beguru Police Station subject to following conditions. I. Petitioners shall appear before the jurisdictional Court within 15 days from this day and execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with one surety for the likesum with the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. II. Petitioners shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. III. Petitioners shall attend the trial Court on all dates of the hearing unless exempted and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE LRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 18