- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24699 CRL.P No. 4231 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF MAY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4231 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI MINOT KHONGKAI S/O. LATE POMLI PHAWA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, R/AT PADU SHNONGDENG AMLAREM WEST JAINTIA HILLS MAGHALAYA - 793150. …PETITIONER (BY SRI K. RAMA SINGH, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HSR LAYOUT POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT COMPLEX BENGALURU - 560001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT.RASHMI PATEL, HCGP) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.P.C. (U/S. 483 BNSS,2023 ) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.384/2025 AND IN C.C.NO.47763/2025 UNDER SECTION 66(C) AND 66(D), 84(B) OF IT ACT 2000 AND SECTIONS 318(4), 319(2), 61(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS-2023, (BY HSR LAYOUT P.S.) PENDING BEFORE XXXIX ACJM AT BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by SUMA B N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24699 CRL.P No. 4231 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL ORAL ORDER The petitioner, who is accused No.4 in Crime No.384/2025 registered at HSR Layout Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008, Section 84B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4), 319, 61(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is before this Court seeking grant of bail. The charge sheet has been filed. Accused No.4 - petitioner has been in custody since 07.10.2025. 2. Learned counsel for accused No.4 - petitioner submits that accused Nos.2, 3, 6 to 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 have been granted regular and anticipatory bail respectively. 3. The allegation against the present petitioner, as found at page 88, reads as under: "J4 DgÉÆæ «Ä£ÉÆÃmï PÁAPÉÊ @ eÉ¥sï @ «Ä£ÉÆÃmï FvÀ£À «gÀÄzÀÝ zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÉ - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24699 CRL.P No. 4231 of 2026 J4 DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ 2020£Éà ¸Á°£À ¥ÁægÀA¨sÀzÀ°è CLOSER DV J19 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ J22 jAzÀ J34 gÀªÀgÉV£À DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÀÄ £ÀqɸÀÄwÛzÀÝ SCAM, BPO/CALL CENTER £À°è PÁ¯ï¸ÉAlgï£À°è PÉ®¸À ¥ÁægÀA©ü¹, £ÀAvÀgÀ 2021£Éà ¸Á°£À°è £ÉÆAzÀtÂAiÀiÁzÀ Cybits Solutions Pvt. Ltd PÀA¥À¤ JA§ ºÉ¸Àj£À SCAM, BPO/CALL CENTER£À°è PÉÆèøÀgï DV CªÉÄjPÁ ¥ÀæeÉUÀ½UÉ PÀgÉ ªÀiÁr CªÉÄÃjPÁ vÀ¤SÁ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ EvÀgÉ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜUÀ¼À ºÉ¸ÀgÀ£ÀÄß §¼À¹PÉÆAqÀÄ rfl¯ï CgɸïÖ ºÉ¸Àj£À°è GzÉÝñÀ¥ÀƪÀðPÀªÁV ¸ÀÄ®¨sÀªÁV ºÀtUÀ½¸À®Ä EvÀgÉ DgÉÆæUÀ¼À eÉÆvÉ ¸ÉÃj, C¥ÀgÁ¢üPÀ M¼À¸ÀAZÀ£ÀÄß ªÀiÁr, CªÉÄÃjPÁ ¥ÀæeÉUÀ¼À ªÉÊAiÀÄQÛPÀ ªÀiÁ»wAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ CªÀgÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÉzÀj¹ ªÀAa¹ CPÀæªÀĪÁV ºÀt ¸ÀA¥ÁzÀ£É ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ¸ÁPÁëöåzsÁgÀUÀ½AzÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ vÀ¤SÁ PÁ®zÀ°è ªÀ±À¥Àr¹PÉÆAqÀ DgÉÆævÀ£À ªÉƨÉÊ¯ï ¥sÉÆãï£À°è zÉÆgÀQzÀ ¸ÁPÁëöåzsÁgÀUÀ½AzÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¸ÀA§¼À ªÀÄvÀÄÛ INCENTIVE ºÀtªÀ£ÀÄß PÁåµï ªÀÄÄSÁAvÀgÀ ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆArgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ vÀ¤SɬÄAzÀ zsÀÈqÀ¥ÀnÖgÀÄvÀÛzÉ." 4. Learned counsel for accused No.4 - petitioner submits that except the allegation that the petitioner and others were carrying on the suspected business, no incriminating material has been brought on record. He further submits that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents. Since accused No.4 - petitioner is similarly situated to the other accused persons who have already been granted bail, accused No.4 - petitioner is also entitled to be enlarged on bail. 5. Learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent–State does not dispute that accused No.4 - - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24699 CRL.P No. 4231 of 2026 petitioner has no criminal antecedents. It is also not disputed that, though the charge sheet has been filed, no material has been brought on record to indicate that the Company being run by accused Nos.22 and 23, in which the petitioner herein was employed, was in fact involved in any crime. Except the allegation of suspected operation, no other material is available on record. 6. Considering the allegations made against accused No.4 - petitioner and in view of the fact that bail has already been granted to the other accused, this Court deems it appropriate to grant bail to accused No.4 - petitioner. 7. Accordingly, I pass the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) Accused No.4 - petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.384/2025 for the offences punishable under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24699 CRL.P No. 4231 of 2026 Information Technology Act, 2008, Section 84B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4), 319, 61(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two local sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts his appearance for valid reasons; c) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24699 CRL.P No. 4231 of 2026 e) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against him is disposed off; Sd/- (M.G.S. KAMAL) JUDGE CPN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 116