- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:25732 CRL.P No. 7466 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 7466 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. GOWRAMMA W/O SRINIVAS REDDY AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS LAKSHMISAGARA VILLAGE CHANDAPURA CIRCLE ATTIBELE HOBLI ANEKAL TALUK BENGALURU - 562 107. 2. SRINIVAS REDDY S/O NANJA REDDY AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS LAKSHMISAGARA VILLAGE CHANDAPURA CIRCLE ATTIBELE HOBLI ANEKAL TALUK BENGALURU - 562 107. 3. MUNISWAMIREDDY @ MANJUNATHA REDDY S/O NARAYANREDDY AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS NO.174/18, 2ND CROSS SARJAPURA ROAD, J.S.LAYOUT ATTIBELE HOBLI ANEKAL TALUK - 562 107. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI M. JAGANNATH ALVA, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE SURYANAGARA POLICE STATION BENGALURU DISTRICT - 560 099 REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:25732 CRL.P No. 7466 of 2026 HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL BY DIRECTING THE SURAYANAGARA POLICE/RESPONDENT TO RELEASE THE PETITIONERS ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN CR NO.146/2026 REGISTERED BY THEM FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 108 OF BNSS 2023 CONDITIONALLY BEFORE II ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC ANEKAL. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned HCGP, who is directed to take notice on behalf of the respondent - State. 2. Accused Nos.2 to 4 in Crime No.146/2026 registered by Suryanagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS, 2023, are before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:25732 CRL.P No. 7466 of 2026 3. FIR in Crime No.146/2026 was registered by Suryanagar Police Station, Bengaluru for the aforesaid offence against one Sampath Kumar and petitioners herein based on the first information dated 26.04.2026 received from Rajendrareddy, who is the father of deceased Leelavathi. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioners, who are arraigned as accused Nos.2 to 4 had approached jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.5217/2026, which was rejected on 08.05.2026. It is under these circumstances, they are before this Court. 4. Perusal of material on record would go to show that deceased Leelavathi was married to accused No.1/Sampath Kumar, who is the son of petitioner Nos.1 and 2 herein. Petitioner No.3 is the son-in-law of petitioner Nos.1 and 2. Leelavati and her minor daughter Lakshya were found dead in the pond situated within the agricultural property of petitioners herein. Father of Leelavathi, who suspected foul play in the death of his daughter and granddaughter had approached the police and submitted first information and it is under these circumstances, FIR was registered by Suryanagar Police - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:25732 CRL.P No. 7466 of 2026 Station, Bengaluru in Crime No.146/2026 for the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS, 2023. 5. For the purpose of attracting the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS 2023, the act committed by the accused should be immediately prior to the deceased committing suicide and the said act should have aided or instigated the deceased to take the drastic step of committing suicide. Such an allegation is not found in the first information submitted in the present case. Petitioner Nos.1 and 2 are the parents of accused No.1, who is the husband of deceased Leelavathi. Petitioner No.3 is the son-in-law of petitioner Nos.1 and 2. According to the petitioners' counsel, petitioner No.3 is separately staying with his family. It is not in dispute that petitioners have no other criminal antecedents and they have undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. They are all agriculturists by avocation. The alleged offences are neither punishable with death or life imprisonment. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioners for - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:25732 CRL.P No. 7466 of 2026 grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following:- 6. The petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioners/accused Nos.2 to 4 in the event of their arrest in Crime No.146/2026 registered by Suryanagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioners/accused Nos.2 to 4 shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioners/accused Nos.2 to 4 shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioners/accused Nos.2 to 4 shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and they shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:25732 CRL.P No. 7466 of 2026 4. The petitioners/accused Nos.2 to 4 shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 33