- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24808 CRL.P No. 4436 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF MAY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4436 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI BHASKARA C S/O GOVINDA, AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, R/AT JUNIOR HEALTH INSPECTOR, HEALTH SECTION, MANGALORE CITY CORPORATION, MANGALORE DISTRICT575001 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SRINIVAS V., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY MANGALURU WOMEN POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.P.C. (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CR.NO.0006/2026 REGISTERED BY MANGALORE WOMEN POLICE STATION, BENGALURU FOR AN OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 74, 75, 79, 352, 351(2) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), ON THE FILE OF VI ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSION JUDGE. D.K., MANGALORE, IN CRL. MIS 123/2026, DATED 06.03.2026. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by VINUTHA B S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24808 CRL.P No. 4436 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND ORAL ORDER This petition is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, 'BNSS'), by the petitioner/accused seeking grant of anticipatory bail in Crime No.6/2026 dated 17.02.2026 registered by the Mangalore Women Police Station, Mangalore, for the offences punishable under Sections 74, 75, 79, 352 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, 'BNS'). 2. The complaint came to be lodged against the petitioner by a pourakarmika alleging demand for sexual favours. It is alleged that the incident occurred on 22.06.2025, whereas the complaint was lodged on 17.02.2026. 3. Sri Srinivas V., learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner was working as a Junior Health Inspector in Mangalore Mahanagara Palike, where the complainant was also employed. It is contended that the complainant had sought grant of leave for a period of ten days and, since the same was not sanctioned by the petitioner, the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24808 CRL.P No. 4436 of 2026 present complaint has been lodged out of vengeance. It is further submitted that the alleged incident is stated to have occurred on 22.06.2025, whereas the complaint came to be lodged only on 17.02.2026. Learned counsel submits that the complaint is devoid of merit. 4. Learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for the respondent-State submits that the offence alleged against the petitioner is serious in nature and, in the event of grant of anticipatory bail, there is every likelihood of the petitioner not co-operating with the investigation. 5. Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader, this Court is inclined to entertain the petition on the short ground that the alleged incident is stated to have occurred on 22.06.2025, whereas the complaint came to be lodged only on 17.02.2026. The material on record further indicates that the petitioner and the complainant were in an employer-employee relationship. The ingredients of alleged offences are not forthcoming immediately. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24808 CRL.P No. 4436 of 2026 6. This Court is of the considered view that, in the event of grant of anticipatory bail, the same would not impede the ongoing investigation. Hence, the following order: ORDER (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on anticipatory bail in Crime No.06/2026 registered by Mangalore Women Police Station, Mangalore City, for the offences punishable under Sections 74, 75, 79, 352 and 351(2) of the BNS, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the like sum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) The petitioner shall appear regularly on all dates of hearing before the Trial Court, unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons; - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24808 CRL.P No. 4436 of 2026 c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) The petitioner shall not involve himself in any offences in future. SD/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE KA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 82