- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12185 CRL.P No. 688 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 688 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. GAURAV BUGALIA C/O.PRILSM SINGH BUGALIA AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS R/AT NO.22, SECOND AVENUE GOMS DEFENCE COLONY OPP AU FINANCE BANK GOUTHAM MARG, JAIPUR RAJASTHAN - 302 021. …PETITIONER (BY SRI VIVEK SUBBA REDDY, SENIOR ADVOCATE A/W SRI MUKESH SHARMA KOUSHIK, ADVOCATE AND SRI KRISHNA J, ADVOCATE SMT. SHIREESHA S, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE K R PURAM POLICE STATION BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI MOHD. AYUB ALI, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 Cr.P.C (UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME No.765/2025 REGISTERED BY Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12185 CRL.P No. 688 of 2026 THE K.R.PURAM POLICE STATION BEFORE THE XXIX ADDL CMM MAYO HALL BENGLAURU CITY FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 80 R/W SECTION 3(5) 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 sole accused under Section 483 of BNSS to grant bail in Crime No.765/2025 of K.R.Puram Police Station, registered for offences under Section 80 read with Section 3(5) of BNS. 2. Heard the learned Senior counsel for petitioner and learned Additional SPP for respondent/State. 3. Learned Senior counsel for petitioner would contend that the marriage of the petitioner with the deceased has taken place on 23.04.2024. The deceased was working in Gurgaon. The petitioner stayed with the deceased in Gurgaon and he came back to his native at Jaipur during July 2025. Thereafter as there were differences between petitioner and the deceased due to - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12185 CRL.P No. 688 of 2026 temporal differences, he filed petition for divorce on 03.09.2025 in MC No.774/2025. After filing the said divorce petition, the deceased came from Gurgaon to Jaipur and there were panchayaths for settlement of the dispute between petitioner and the deceased. The said differences were not settled and therefore, the deceased went to Bangalore on 21.09.2025. The deceased committed suicide on 08.10.2025 at Bangalore. There was no any proximity of harassment by the petitioner to the deceased as she committed suicide after 17 days after leaving the house of the petitioner. The alleged demand for Rado watch is not stated in the complaint. The petitioner was unemployed and he is eligible for appointment as a commercial pilot. The deceased was B.Tech Graduate. As the petitioner had filed divorce petition and as the differences were not settled, the deceased, who was of a weak mind, might have committed suicide. There is no abatement by this petitioner to the deceased to commit suicide. As the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12185 CRL.P No. 688 of 2026 charge sheet is filed, the petitioner is not required for custodial interrogation. There are no antecedents of the petitioner. With this he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned Additional SPP would contend that there were screenshots retrieved from the mobile of the petitioner wherein there are photos of the petitioner with different unknown women. There was a demand of dowry by the petitioner and his family members prior to marriage and even after the marriage. There is a transfer of Rs.2,00,000/- prior to the marriage by the complainant to the account of the petitioner. Due to continuous harassment given by the petitioner and his family members, the deceased has committed suicide. The charge sheet material show prima-facie case against the petitioner for offences alleged against him. With this he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsels, the Court has perused the charge sheet and other materials placed on record. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12185 CRL.P No. 688 of 2026 6. The marriage of the petitioner with the deceased has taken place on 23.04.2024. There are no issues out of the marriage. After marriage, the petitioner went and resided in a Gurgaon, wherein the deceased was working. The petitioner was unemployed at that time. As there were temporal differences between petitioner and the deceased, he came back to Jaipur during July 2025. The petitioner filed a divorce petition on 03.09.2025 in M.C.No.774/2025. It is stated that conciliation was held by the Panchayath members and it was failed. It is submitted that therefore, the deceased on 21.09.2025 went to Bangalore and stayed with her brother at Bangalore. The deceased has committed suicide on 08.10.2025. The alleged harassment of demand of dowry cannot be said to be proximate to the suicide as the deceased stayed in Bangalore from 21.09.2025 till she committed suicide on 08.10.2025. The deceased was aware of the divorce petition being filed by the petitioner against her and that the petitioner was unemployed. What was the exact reason for the deceased - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12185 CRL.P No. 688 of 2026 to commit suicide is a matter of trial. Whether the petitioner has abated the deceased to commit suicide is also to be considered at the trial. As the charge sheet is filed, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. The petitioner is in judicial custody since 08.10.2025. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. 7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out case for grant of bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.765/2025 of K.R.Puram Police Station, subject to following conditions: (i) Petitioner shall execute a bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. (ii) Petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12185 CRL.P No. 688 of 2026 (iii) Petitioner shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted and co- operate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DKB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26 Ct.sm