- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26703 CRL.P No. 5111 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5111 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: MR DHANANJAYA R S/O RAJANNA AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS R/AT BOMMASAMUDRA VILLAGE CHALLAKERE TALUK CHITRADURGA -577522 (PETITIONER IS IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K V SATEESHCHANDRA., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE BY CHALLAKERE POLICE STATION CHALLAKERE TALUK CHITRADURGA-577522 REP. BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU -560001 2. MRS YALLAKKA W/O LATE NAGARAJA AGED ABOUT 52 YEARTS R/AT SUJIMALLESWARA NAGARA Digitally signed by JUANITA THEJESWINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26703 CRL.P No. 5111 of 2026 CHALLAKERE TALUK CHITRADURGA -577522 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.LAKSHMAN.B., HCGP FOR R1 R2 SERVED - UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (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 SPL. C (POCSO) NO: 1/2026 (CRIME NO: 449/2025) OF CHALLAKERE POLICE STATION, FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 137(2), 64(2) (m) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 AND SECTION 4 AND 6 OF PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012, ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL 2ND ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT CHITRADURGA AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused in Spl.C.No.1/2026 pending before the II Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Chitradurga arising out of Crime No.449/2025 registered by the Challakere Police Station, for offence punishable under Section 137(2), - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26703 CRL.P No. 5111 of 2026 64(2)(m) of BNS and Section 4 and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 is before this Court seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent - State. The respondent No.2 is served and has remained unrepresented before this court. 3. FIR in Crime No.449/2025 was registered by Challakere Police Station, for aforesaid offences, against unknown persons based on the first information received from respondent No.2, who is the grandmother of victim girl aged about 16 years. 4. During the course of investigation, petitioner herein was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 13.11.2025. After completing the investigation, charge sheet was filed against him for the aforesaid offences. His bail application filed before the trial Court was rejected on 18.03.2026. Therefore, petitioner is before this court. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26703 CRL.P No. 5111 of 2026 5. Material on record would go to show that the victim girl was found missing on 10.10.2025 and efforts made to trace her by her parents and relatives had failed. It is under these circumstances on 12.10.2025 her grandmother approached the police and submitted the first information. During the course of investigation, the petitioner and the victim girl were traced. After completing the investigation, charge sheet is now filed. 6. The victim girl was examined in the present case before the trial court as PW1. During the course of her cross- examination, victim girl has completely turned hostile to the case of the prosecution. She has denied that petitioner had taken her and had committed sexual assault on her. She has also denied that she was medically examined in the present case. It is not in dispute that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents and, he is in custody from 13.11.2025. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that without expressing any opinion on the merits and demerits of the case, the prayer made by the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26703 CRL.P No. 5111 of 2026 petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following:- ORDER The Criminal petition is allowed. The petitioner/Accused is directed to be enlarged on bail in Spl.C.No.1/2026 pending before the II Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Chitradurga arising out of Crime No.449/2025 registered by the Challakere Police Station, for offence punishable under Sections 137(2), 64(2)(m) of BNS and Sections 4 and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, subject to the following conditions; a) Petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) The petitioner shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts his appearance for valid reasons; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26703 CRL.P No. 5111 of 2026 c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future; e) The 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/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KLY List No.: 1 Sl No.: 48