Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26480 CRL.P No. 16764 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN CRIMINAL PETITION NO.16764 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC)/483(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1.
NAVEEN @ NAVEEN S/O MUNIRAJA AGED:28 YEARS GOLLAHALI VILLAGE, VIJAYAPURA (H) DEVANAHALLI, DEVANAHALLI (T) BENGALURU DISTRICT-562 135.
…PETITIONER (BY SRI. KIRAN KUMAR H.K., ADVOCATE) AND:
1.
STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SHO VIJAYAPURA PS REPTD BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALORE-560 001.
…RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP.)
Digitally signed by V MANJUSHA BAI Location:
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26480 CRL.P No. 16764 of 2025
THIS CRL.P. IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 OF CR.P.C./UNDER SECTION 483 OF BNSS), PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CR.NO.180/2024 S.C.NO.15027/2025, VIJAYAPURA POLICE STATION FOR ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 302 OF IPC PENDING ON THE FILE OF COURT OF 5TH ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, DEVANAHALLI IN THE ABOVE CASE, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN
ORAL ORDER
1. The bail petition is filed by the accused in S.C.No.15027/2025 (Crime No.180/2024) pending on the file of the V Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural, Sitting at Devanahalli. 2. The petitioner is accused of an offence committed under Section 302 of IPC. On 06.05.2024 the wife of the accused died. On 07.05.2024, the sister of the accused (CW-2) gave a complaint to the respondent - Police, which reads as under:-
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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26480 CRL.P No. 16764 of 2025
"ರವೆ, ¥Éưøï E£ïì ¥ÉPÀÖgï ಜಯಪ ರ ೕ ಾೆ ೇವನಹ ಾಲೂಕು. ರವಂದ
ಲ ೕ !" ನರ#ಂಹಪ$, 22 ವಷ& ಪ'ಷ( )ಾ*, ಕೂ +ೆಲಸ ೊಲಹ ಾ-ಮ ಜಯಪ ರ /ೋಬ ೇವನಹ ಾಲೂಕು
ªÉƨÉʯï. £ÀA.8971624864
2ಾನು ಈ 4ೕಲ5ಂಡ 7ಾಸದ 8ಾಸ8ಾ9ದು: ಕೂ +ೆಲಸ ;ಾ<+ೊಂಡು =ೕವನ ನ>ೆ#+ೊಂ<ರುೆ?ೕ2ೆ. ನಮA ತಂೆಯ /ೆಸರು ನರ#ಂಹಪ$ ಾC /ೆಸರು ಮುDರತEಮA ಆ9ದು: ನಮA ತಂೆ ಾCಯವೆ 12ೇ ಗಂಗಮA (24 ವಷ&) 2 2ೇ 2ಾನು ಇಬIರು /ೆಣುK ಮಕ5ರುೆ?ೕ8ೆ. ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ರವರು ಅರೇಶನಹ, ಾ-ಮದ ನೕ" ರವರನುE N-ೕ*#ದು: ಇಬIರು ಪರಸ$ರ N-ೕ*# ಮಧು8ೆ ;ಾ<+ೊಂ<ದು: ಮಧು8ೆPಾಾಾDಂದಲೂ ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ಮತು? Qಾವ ನೕ" ರವರು ನಮA ಮ2ೆಯ ನಮA )ೊೆಯ 8ಾಸ8ಾ9ರುಾ?Rೆ. ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ರವೆ ಸು;ಾರು ವಷ&ಗಂದ ಕು<ತದ ಅQಾSಸವನುE ರೂ< ;ಾ<+ೊಂಡು ಪ-* Tನ ಮಧSUೇವ2ೆ ;ಾಡು*?ದ:ಳW. ಈೆX 15 Tವಸಗಳ Yಂೆ ಗಂಡು ಮಗುೆ ಜನನ Dೕ<ದು: Zಾಣಂ*Pಾ9ರುಾ?7ೆ. ನಮA Qಾವ ನೕ" ರವರು /ಾಗೂ ನಮA ಮ2ೆಯವರು ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA Dೆ ಕು<ಯZೇಡ Zಾಣಂ*Pಾ9T:ೕPಾ ಕು<ಯZೇಡ ಎಂದು ಬುT\8ಾದ /ೇದರು ಮಧSUೇವ2ೆ ;ಾಡು*?ದ:ಳW. ಈ9ರು8ಾೆX D2ೆE Tನ T2ಾಂಕ: 06/05/2024 ರಂದು Rಾ*- ಸು;ಾರು 9-30 ಗಂ]ೆಯ ನಮA Qಾವ ನೕ" ರವರು ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಮಧSUೇವ2ೆ ;ಾ<ರುವ ದನುE 2ೋ< ಮಧSUೇವ2ೆ ;ಾಡZೇಡ ಎಂದು ಬುT: 8ಾದ /ೇದನು. ನಂತರ ಸು;ಾರು 11-00 ಗಂ]ೆಯ ಅಕ5ನ ಮಗು ಅಳW*?ದ:ನುE 2ೋ< ನಮA Qಾವ ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ರವೆ ಎದು: ಮಗುೆ /ಾಲು ಕು<ಸು ಎಂದು /ೇದರು.
ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ರವರು ನಮA Qಾವ ನೕ" ರವರ ;ಾತು +ೇಳೆ ನಮA
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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26480 CRL.P No. 16764 of 2025
QಾವDೆ ZೈದಳW ಆಗ ನಮA Qಾವ +ೆ2ೆEೆ /ೊ>ೆದು ಮಗುೆ /ಾಲು ಕು<ಸುವಂೆ *#ದರು ಆಗ ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ರವರು ಕೂದಲನುE #ಂಗ#+ೊಂಡು, +ೈಗಂದ ಬ7ೆಗಳನುE /ೊ>ೆದು ಮುಖ+ೆ5 `a+ೊಂಡು, ತbೆಯನುE ೊ>ೆೆ /ೊ>ೆದು+ೊಂಡಳW ನಂತರ 2ಾವ ಸ;ಾcಾನ ;ಾ< ಊಟ *DE#ೆವ ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಮಲ9+ೊಂಡಳW, ತದನಂತರ ಈ Tನ T2ಾಂಕ:07/05/2024 ರಂದು ZೆೆX ಸು;ಾರು 6-30 ಗಂ]ೆೆ ಮಧS+ೆ5 DೕರನುE /ಾಕೆ /ಾೇಯ ಮಧSUೇವ2ೆ ;ಾ<ದು:, ಮಧSUೇವ2ೆ ;ಾಡದ ನಂತರ DೕರನುE ಕು<ದು, ಊಟವನುE *ನEೆ /ಾೇfೕ ಮಲ9+ೊಂಡಳW ನಂತರ ಮcಾSಹE ಸು;ಾರು 12-00 ಗಂ]ೆಯ ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ರವರು ನಮA ಾCೆ !ೕ#Dೕರು +ಾC#+ೊಡುವಂೆ /ೇದು: ನಮA ಾC !ೕ#Dೕರು +ಾC# ಅಕ5ನನುE ಕೂ9 ಕRೆದರೂ ;ಾತ2ಾಡೆ ಇದು:ದ:+ೆ5 ಹ*?ರ /ೋ9 4ೖಮುg( ಅಲುಾ<# ಎಬI#ದರೂ ಎೆ:ೕರುವ Tಲ ಆಗ ನಮA ಾC ಾಬೊಂಡು, ನಮೆ *#ದು: ಆಗ ಊನವರು PಾRೋ ನಮA ಆಸ$ೆ-ೆ ಕRೆದು+ೊಂಡು /ೋಗಲು ಅಂಬುbೆ"h 8ಾಹನ+ೆ5 ೕ" ;ಾ<ದು: ಅಂಬುbೇ"h 8ಾಹನದವರು ಬಂದು 2ೋ<ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಮೃತಪg(ರುವ ಾ9 *#ದರು. ಆದ:ಂದ ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA Uಾನ ಅನು;ಾನ ಇರುತ?ೆ. ಆದುದಂದ ಾವ ಗಳW +ಾನೂನು ಕ-ಮ +ೈೊಂಡು ಮೃತಪg(ರುವ ನಮA ಅಕ5 ಗಂಗಮA ರವರ Uಾೆ +ಾರಣವನುE *#+ೊಡZೇ+ಾ9 +ೋರುೆ?ೕ2ೆ. ¢£ÁAPÀ: 07/05/2024
ತಮA jಾk#
¸À»/-
(®Qëöäà J£ï.)
3. Pursuant to the complaint, the body of the deceased was sent to post mortem and subsequently, on 30.09.2024, the father of the deceased (CW-1) lodged the following complaint before the respondent - Police, which reads as under:-
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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26480 CRL.P No. 16764 of 2025
"ರವೆ, ¥Éưøï E£ïì ¥ÉPÀÖgï ಜಯಪ ರ ೕ ಾೆ ೇವನಹ ಾಲೂಕು. ರವಂದ
ನರ#ಂಹಪ$ !" bೇm ಮುDಯಪ$, 60 ವಷ&, ಪ'ಷ( )ಾ*, ಮು2ೇಶkರUಾkn ೇ8ಾಲಯದ ಪo)ಾಗಳW, ೊಲಹ ಾ-ಮ ಜಯಪ ರ /ೋಬ ೇವನಹ ಾಲೂಕು
2ಾನು ಈ 4ೕಲ5ಂಡ 7ಾಸದ 8ಾಸ8ಾ9ದು: ನಮA ಾ-ಮದ ರುವ ಮು2ೇಶkರUಾkn ೇ8ಾಲಯದ ಪo)ಾPಾ9 +ೆಲಸ ;ಾ<+ೊಂಡು =ೕವನ ನ>ೆ#+ೊಂ<ರುೆ?ೕ2ೆ. ನಮೆ 01 2ೇ ಗಂಗಮA 22ೇ ಲ ೕ ಎಂಬ ಇಬIರು /ೆಣುK ಮಕ5ರುಾ?Rೆ. pದಲ2ೇ ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮAಳW ಅರೇಶನಹ ಾ-ಮದ ನೕ" ಎಂಬುವರನುE N-ೕ*#, ಇಬIರು ಪರಸ$ರ ಓN$ ಸು;ಾರು 3 ವಷ&ಗಳ Yಂೆ ಮದು8ೆ ;ಾ< +ೊಂ<ದು: ಮದು8ೆPಾದ ನಂತರ ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮA ಮತು? ಅಯ ನೕ" ರವರು ನಮA )ೊೆಯ ನಮA ಮ2ೆಯ fೕ 8ಾಸ8ಾ9ದು: ಅನೂನS8ಾ9ದ:ರು. ನನE ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮA ಮಧS Uೇವ2ೆ ;ಾಡು*?ದು: ಇದು ನನE ಅಯ ನೕ" ೆ ಇಷ(8ಾಗು*?ರ rಲ.
ನನE ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮA ರವರು ಏN-ೕr *ಂಗಳ ಗಂಡು ಮಗುೆ ಜನನ Dೕ<ದ:ಳW. ಈ9ರು8ಾೆX T2ಾಂಕ:06/05/2024 ರಂದು 2ಾನು ನನE /ೆಂಡ* ಮುDರತEಮA, ಅಯ ನೕ" `ಯ ಮಗಳW ಲ ೕ ಮ2ೆಯ ರು8ಾಗ Rಾ*- ಸು;ಾರು 9-30 ಗಂ]ೆಯ £ÀನE ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮA ಮಧS Uೇವ2ೆ ;ಾ<ರುವ ದನುE ಕಂಡು ಅಯ ನೕ" ಮಧSUೇವ2ೆ ;ಾಡZೇಡ aಕ5 ಮಗು ಇದು: ಸPಾ9 ಆRೈ+ೆ ;ಾಡು*?ಲ ಎಂದು ಎಂದು ಮಗೆ ಬುT:8ಾದ /ೇ ಕೂಾ< #g(Dಂದ ಮಲ9+ೊಂಡನು, ಇಾದ ನಂತರ Rಾ*- ಸು;ಾರು 11-00 ಗಂ]ೆಯ ಮಗು ಅಳW*?ದ:ನುE 2ೋ< ಸಡ2ಾE9 ಎದು: #g(Dಂದ ಕೂಾಡುಾ? ಮಗುೆ /ಾಲು ಕು<ಸು Zೋಮುಂ>ೆ ಎಂದು 2ೆಲದ /ಾ#ೆಯ 4ೕbೆ ಮಲ9ದ: ನನE ಮಗಳ 4ೖೆ +ಾ Dಂದ ಒದು: pಣ+ಾ Dಂದ ಎೆೆ ಗುT: +ೈCಂದ +ೆ2ೆEೆ /ೊ>ೆದನು. ಆಗ 2ಾನು ನನE
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/ೆಂಡ* ಮುDರತEಮA ಮತು? ಲ ೕ, ಗಂಗಮAಳನುE !<# ಸ;ಾcಾನ ;ಾ<ೆವ . T2ಾಂಕ:07/05/2024 ರಂದು ಮcಾSಹE 12-00 ಗಂ]ೆಯ ಗಂಗಮA ತನE ಾCೆ !ೕ# Dೕರು +ಾC#+ೊಡುವಂೆ /ೇದು:, ನನE /ೆಂಡ* !# Dೕರು +ಾC# ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮAಳನುE ಕೂ9 ಕRೆದರೂ ;ಾತ2ಾಡೆ ಇದು:, ಗಂಗಮAಳ 4ೖಮುg( ಅಲುಾ<# ಎZೆI#ದರೂ ಎೆ:ೕಳೆ ಮೃತಪg(ದ:ಳW. ನನE ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮA ರವರ 4ೖ4ೕbೆ Pಾವ ೇ ಾಯಗಳW ಆ9ಲ 8ಾದ:ಂದ 2ಾವ
ನನE ಮಗಳW ಕು<ದು ಮಧSuಾನ ;ಾ< ªÀÄÈvÀ¥ÀnÖgÀಬಹುೆಂದು ಅವಳ Uಾನ ಅನು;ಾನ ಇೇ Uಾನ +ಾರಣವನುE *ಸ+ೋಡZೇ+ಾ9 ನನE `ಯ ಮಗಳW ಲ ೕ ರವರು ದೂರು Dೕ<ದ:ರ ಆcಾರದ 4ೕRೆೆ T2ಾಂಕ:07/05/2024 ರಂದು ಾಾ ಯು.<.ಆv.ನಂ. 06/2024 ಕಲಂ: 174(#) #ಆv N# jvÁå ಪ-ಕರಣ ಾಖbಾ9ರುತ?ೆ. ನಂತರ 8ೈcಾSw+ಾಯವಂದ ;ಾY* *ಯbಾ9 ನನE ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮA ರವರ ಎೆಯ ಪ+ೆ5ಲುಬುಗಳW ಮುದು /ೋ9 ಮೃತಪg( ರುವ ಾ9 *ದು ಬಂTರುತ?ೆ. T2ಾಂಕ:06/05/2024 ರಂದು Rಾ*- ಸು;ಾರು 11-00 ಗಂ]ೆಯ ಗಂಗಮAನ ಮಗು ಅಳW*?ದ:ನುE ನೕ" ನು 2ೋ< ಸಡ2ಾE9 ಎದು: #g(Dಂದ ಕೂಾಡುಾ? ಮಗುೆ /ಾಲು ಕು<ಸು Zೋಮುಂ>ೆ ಎಂದು 2ೆಲದ°è /ಾ#ೆಯ 4ೕbೆ ಮಲ9ದ: ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮAನ 4ೖೆ +ಾ Dಂದ ಒದು: pಣ+ಾ Dಂದ ಎೆೆ ಗುT: +ೈCಂದ +ೆ2ೆEೆ /ೊ>ೆದನು /ೊ>ೆದTದ:ಂದ ನನE ಮಗಳW ಗಂಗಮA T2ಾಂಕ:07/05/2024 ರಂದು ಮೃತಪg(ರುಾ?7ೆ. ಅದ:ಂದ ನನE ಮಗಳ 4ೖೆ +ಾ Dಂದ ಒದು: pಣ+ಾ Dಂದ ಎೆೆ ಗುT:ದಂದ ಎೆಯ ಗೂ<ನ ಪ+ೆ5ಲುಬುಗಳW ಮುದು ೇಹೊಳೆ ರಕ?Uಾ-ವ8ಾಗುವಂೆ ;ಾ< UಾC#ರುವ ಆ+ೆAiÀÄ ಗಂಡ ನೕ" ರವರ 4ೕbೆ +ಾನೂನು ೕ* ಕ-ಮ ಜರು9ಸಲು +ೋರುೆ?ೕ2ೆ. ¢£ÁAPÀ:30/09/2024
ತಮA jಾk#
¸À»/-
(ನರ#ಂಹಪ$)
4. Based on the complaint of CW-1, an FIR was registered on 30.09.2024. The petitioner/accused was arrested on
01.10.2024. The petitioner is in custody till date. The
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investigation is completed and the police report is filed on
24.10.2024.
5. The case of the petitioner is that he is not guilty of the offence alleged. It is further submitted that there are contradictions in the aforementioned two complaints. It is also submitted that as per the first complaint, the petitioner only slapped the deceased as she was not feeding the newborn child and the deceased got enraged and voluntarily harmed herself, which resulted in internal injuries and consequently, led to her death. It is contented that the second complaint is an afterthought and even that reveals that there was a cordial and good relationship between the accused and the deceased and that he only objected her drinking habits, which led to a physical altercation resulting in the death of the deceased. It is submitted that the petitioner never intended to cause the death of the deceased and he has not caused her death. It is also submitted that the investigation is completed, that the petitioner has co-operated with the investigation. Further, custodial interrogation is not required. It is also submitted that the petitioner will not tamper with the prosecution witness or
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try to influence them in any manner whatsoever or jump bail. It is also submitted that he will abide by any of the terms and conditions that may be imposed by this Court. It is also submitted that there are 23 prosecution witnesses and recording of the evidence before the trial Court has not yet commenced and that the trial is likely to take considerable time. For the aforementioned reasons, it is prayed that the petitioner may be enlarged on bail. 6. Per contra, learned HCGP appearing for the respondent - Police opposes the bail petition. He submits that the petitioner is accused of a heinous offence of murder and that he is likely to influence the prosecution witnesses, if released on bail. It is also submitted that there is prima facie material on record against the petitioner to show that he is guilty of the offence alleged.
It is also submitted that in the event of petitioner being released on bail, he may jump bail. For the said reasons, it is prayed that the bail petition be rejected. 7. Though the petitioner is accused of committing the heinous offence of murder, there are contradictions in the two complaints received by the police. Even otherwise, the facts in
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the complaint do not reveal that it was a premeditated murder. There was an altercation between the husband and wife with regard to feeding the new-born child, which resulted in injuries to the wife and consequently, she died. Whether she was responsible for the injuries herself or the petitioner caused the same, is a matter of trial. Further, the investigation is already completed and the police report is filed. The petitioner has been in custody since 01.10.2024. Admittedly, he has no other criminal antecedents. Further, there is no requirement for custodial interrogation of the petitioner. Under the given peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that it is a fit case to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to certain conditions being imposed on him. Hence the following:-
ORDER
1. The criminal petition is allowed.
2. The petitioner/accused is ordered to be released on bail in Crime No.180/2024 of Vijayapura Police Station, Bengaluru for the offence punishable under Section 302
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of IPC (S.C.No.15027/2025 pending on the file of V Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural, Sitting at Devanahalli), subject to the following conditions:- i. Petitioner - accused shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the trial Court / Committal Court; ii. Petitioner shall not indulge in any other offences; iii. Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses directly / indirectly; iv. Petitioner shall not leave the jurisdiction without prior permission of the trial Court, and v. Petitioner shall mark his attendance before the Investigating Officer between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. on every Monday or till completion of the trial.
Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE
VMB List No.: 2 Sl No.: 1