- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26326 CRL.P No. 762 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO.762 OF 2026 BETWEEN: P.M.THIMMAIAH S/O MURUGENDRAPPA AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS R/AT PAMENAHALLI VILLAGE DODDAGHATTA POST HIRIYUR TALUK CHITRADURGA DISTRICT PIN-577598 …PETITIONER (BY SRI.MADHUSUDHAN M.N, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. 2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HOSADURGA POLICE CHITRADURGA DISTRICT PIN - 577527 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE PIN - 560 001 SMT.LAKSHMIDEVI W/O LATE JAGANNATHA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26326 CRL.P No. 762 of 2026 R/AT NAKIKERE VILLAGE HOSADURGA TALUK CHITRADURGA DISTRICT PIN CODE - 577527 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT.RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP FOR R.1; R.2 - SERVED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/SEC.438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CRIME NO.585/2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT POLICE/HOSADURGA POLICE STATION, HOSADURGA FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE U/SEC.85, 80 R/W SECTION 3(5) OF BNS AND SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF DP ACT NOW WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT HOSADURGA, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT 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 No.2 in Crime No.585/2025 registered by the Hosadurga Police Station, Hosadurga for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 80 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and under - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26326 CRL.P No. 762 of 2026 Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 is before this Court seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional State Public Prosecutor on behalf of the respondent No.1 - State. 3. Respondent No.2, who is served in the matter, has remained unrepresented before this Court. 4. FIR in Crime No.585/2025 was registered by the Hosadurga Police Station for the aforesaid offences against Shrinivas Patil and the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 17.12.2025 received from respondent No.2, who is the mother of the deceased - Bhoomika. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed a Crl.Misc.No.1550/2025 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 08.01.2026. Therefore, the petitioner is before this Court. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that accused No.1, who was arrested in the present case, has - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26326 CRL.P No. 762 of 2026 been granted regular bail by the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.476/2026 vide order dated 26.05.2026. Insofar as the petitioner is concerned, there are no serious allegations either in the first information or in the charge sheet. The investigation of the case is completed and charge sheet has been filed. Accordingly, prays to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail. 6. Per contra, the learned Additional State Public Prosecutor, who has opposed the bail application, however, does not seriously dispute the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner. 7. The petitioner is the father of accused No.1 - Shrinivas Patil. The deceased - Bhoomika was married to Shrinivas Patil and the said marriage was a love marriage. From the said wedlock, the couple have a child aged about 2 1/2 years. It appears that Bhoomika had committed suicide on 16.12.2025 by hanging herself in her maternal aunt's house. It is under these circumstances, FIR in crime - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26326 CRL.P No. 762 of 2026 No.585/2025 was registered against Shrinivas Patil and the petitioner herein. 8. Perusal of the material on record goes to show that after marriage, Bhoomika and her husband were living happily. Subsequently, there were some disputes between them and their relationship lost its cordiality. Bhoomika had left her matrimonial home and was staying in her parental house along with her child. Prior to the alleged date of incident, the accused No.1 had gone to his in-laws' house and had taken his wife and child with him to attend a village festival. Subsequently, they stayed in a room and for some other reasons, they quarreled with each other. Thereafter, Shrinivas Patil, along with his wife and child, went to the house of Bhoomika's Aunt. It is alleged that Bhoomika had committed suicide in the said house. The petitioner, who is the father of Srinivas Patil, has been arrayed as an accused in the present case on the allegation that there was a demand made by the accused persons for payment of dowry. It is relevant to note here - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26326 CRL.P No. 762 of 2026 that the marriage between accused No.1 and Bhoomika was a love marriage. Accused No.1, who was arrested in the present case, is already enlarged on bail. Investigation of the case is completed and charge sheet is filed. The petitioner is a person aged about 64 years having no criminal antecedents and an agriculturalist by avocation. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that his prayer for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered in the Affirmative. 9. Accordingly, the following ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.585/2025 registered by Hosadurga Police Station, Hosadurga for the offence punishable under Sections 85, 80 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and under - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26326 CRL.P No. 762 of 2026 Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. The petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with the Police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. SD/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 21