- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO.3278 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC)/ 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: M. SARAVANA S/O. MURUGAN, AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS, R/AT. C/O. RAMAREDDY, NEAR ELIGHT SCHOOL, ANNASANDRA PALYA, HAL, BENGALURU-560 017. (PRESENTLY IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. G. RAKESH RAJ, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HAL POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY MS. ASMA KASEV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.662/2025 OF HAL POLICE STATION PENDING BEFORE 29TH ACJM AT MAYO HALL UNIT BANGALORE FOR THE OFFENCES UNDER SECTIONS 109, 115(2), 351(2), 351(3), 352 OF BNS 2023 AND THE XIII ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 BENGALURU HAS DISMISSED THE BAIL PETITION ON 27.01.2026 IN CRL.MISC NO.25043/2026. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH ORAL ORDER The petitioner is arrayed as accused No.3 seeking regular bail in Crime No.662/2025 filed by the respondent/police for the offences punishable under Sections 109, 115(2), 351(2), 351(3), 352 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 pending on the file of the learned 29th Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mayohall Court, Bengaluru. 2. The case of the prosecution is that the complainant is working as a driver and residing with his family. His elder son - Karthik, was working as a driver at National Public School, and his second son is working as an auto driver. It is alleged that Karthik had advanced a sum of Rs.1,000/- to one Rajesh. On 30.12.2025, around about 7:00 a.m., Karthik went to the house of Rajesh to - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 demand him to repay the loan. The said Rajesh had informed Karthik and asked him to come in the evening to collect money. 3. As per the instructions of Rajesh, Karthik went near Sri Rama Temple situated at Annsandrapalya in the evening to collect the said amount. However, it is alleged that the other accused were already present there, waiting for his arrival. As soon as Karthik reached the spot, they assaulted him. Rajesh, who is arrayed as accused No.1, is stated to have taken out a knife and stabbed Karthik on his stomach, as a result of which, he sustained injuries. The injured was immediately shifted to Victoria Hospital for treatment. Thereafter, a complaint came to be registered by the complainant in this regard. 4. On the basis of the complaint, the respondent/police have registered a case, conducted investigation and the investigation is under progress. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 5. The submission of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offences and he has been falsely implicated in this case. It is further submitted that no specific overt-act has been attributed to the present petitioner either in the complaint or in the statement of the injured. The petitioner has no criminal antecedents. The petitioner is aged about 19 years and is a permanent resident of Annasandrapalya, Bengaluru–17. It is further contended that he has been implicated in the present case solely on the basis of the voluntary statement of accused No.1. Therefore, he may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. Making such submissions, he prays to allow the petition. 6. Per contra, the learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for the respondent/State vehemently submitted that the overt acts of all the accused have been properly explained in the complaint. It is contended that the present petitioner, being one of the accused, actively - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 participated in the incident and assaulted the injured with the other accused. 7. It is further submitted that the investigation is in progress and the final report is yet to be filed. Merely because the petitioner is aged about 19 years, is not the ground to enlarge him on bail, because the petitioner has been involved in a serious and heinous offences. Making such submission, she prays to reject the petition. 8. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and on perusal of the averments of the complaint, It would indicate that the elder son of the complainant, namely Karthik, had lent a sum of Rs.1,000/- to accused No.1, Rajesh. On 30.12.2025, Karthik is stated to have gone to the house of Rajesh to demand repayment of the said amount. Rajesh asked him to come in the evening to collect the money. As per the instructions, Karthik went near Sri Rama Temple situated at Annasandrapalya. At that time, it is alleged that accused - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 No.1 and others assaulted Karthik on account of prior enmity existed between them. 10. It is further alleged that accused No.1 took out a knife and stabbed the injured on his abdomen, thereby causing bleeding injuries. However, insofar as the present petitioner is concerned, the only allegation is that, he assaulted the injured along with the other accused. 11. On going through the overt-act of the present petitioner and also the age of the accused/petitioner, it is appropriate to grant him bail by imposing suitable conditions that would take care of the apprehension of the prosecution. Hence I proceed to pursue following: ORDER i) The petition is allowed. ii) The petitioner is ordered to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.662/2025 filed by the respondent/police for the offences punishable under Sections 109, 115(2), 351(2), 351(3), 352 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 pending on the file of the learned 29th Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mayohall Court, Bengaluru on executing personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. iii) The petitioner shall mark his attendance before the respondent/police once in fifteen days on Saturday between 10.00 a.m. to 02.00 p.m. till filing of the final report. iv) The petitioner shall not threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses nor hamper the proceedings of the Court. v) The petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on all hearing dates without fail. vi) The petitioner shall not indulge in any criminal cases till disposal of the case. In case, the petitioner violates any of the bail conditions as stated above, liberty is reserved to the - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14846 CRL.P No. 3278 of 2026 prosecution to file necessary application for cancellation of bail. Sd/- (S RACHAIAH) JUDGE NR/BKM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 46