- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27191 CRL.P No. 1781 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 1781 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRINIDHI @ SHREENIDI B.R S/O LATE RAMESH BABU AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS R/AT ANNUR VILLAGE, C.A.KERE HOBLI MADDUR TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 422. …PETITIONER (BY SRI NAGENDRA M, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY K.M. DODDI POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 01. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI LAKSHMAN, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.202/2025 OF K.M DODDI POLICE STATION MANDYA DISTRICT DATED:6.10.2025 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SEC 109(1), 118(1) R/W 3(5) OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF HONBLE 1ST ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSION JUDGE MANDYA. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27191 CRL.P No. 1781 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.2 in Crime No.202/2025 registered by K.M. Doddi Police Station, Mandya District for the offences punishable under Sections 126(2), 109(1), 118(1) r/w Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned Addl. SPP on behalf of respondent - State. 3. FIR in Crime No.202/2025 was registered by K.M. Doddi Police Station, Mandya initially for the offences punishable under Section 109(1), 118(1) r/w Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023, against one Shashank and the petitioner herein, on the basis of first information dated 06.10.2025 received from Smt. Nirmala, who is the mother of the injured victim Vinay Kumar. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed petition before the jurisdictional Sessions Court under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 which was rejected. Thereafter, he had approached this Court in Crl.P.No.14798/2025 which was - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27191 CRL.P No. 1781 of 2026 dismissed on merits by the Coordinate Bench of this Court on 27.11.2025. Subsequently, investigation is completed and charge sheet is filed in which the petitioner is arraigned as accused no.2. Thereafter, the petitioner has filed this successive bail application under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, investigation of the case is completed and charge sheet is filed. Therefore the petitioner's custodial interrogation is not required in the present case. He also submits that, though allegation in the first information is that accused persons assaulted with a machete, weapon now seized in the present case during the course of investigation is knife. He accordingly, prays to allow the petition. 5. Learned HCGP has opposed the petition. 6. The Coordinate Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.14798 of 2025 in paragraph no.6 has observed as follows:- - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27191 CRL.P No. 1781 of 2026 "On the complaint of one Nirmala - the mother of injured, the case came to be registered against petitioner and another in Crime No.202/2025 for aforesaid offences. There was prior enmity between accused persons and the injured. On 05.10.2025 at about 06.00 p.m, the accused persons came near the injured and at that time this petitioner - accused No.2 held the injured tightly and accused No.1 tried to assault him on his head with machete and he put his left hand to protect himself and sustained injury on his left hand. Thereafter, petitioner - accused No.2 took the machete from accused No.1 and assaulted with the same near left eye on his forehead and caused bleeding injury. The wound certificate indicates that the injured has sustained lacerated wound measuring 5x0.1 c.m. over left parietal bone and bleeding present. The alleged assault is by deadly weapon like machete on the forehead and it is vital part of the body. The offence alleged against the petitioner is heinous offence punishable with imprisonment for life. The investigation is in progress. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has not made out any grounds for grant discretionary relief of anticipatory bail". 7. Merely for the reason that investigation is now completed and charge sheet has been filed the same cannot be considered as change in circumstance. The Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of VIRUPAKSHAPPA GOWDA AND ANOTHER V. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27191 CRL.P No. 1781 of 2026 STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANOTHER - (2017) 5 SCC 406 has observed that, filing of charge sheet cannot be said to be a change in circumstance. The petitioner, who was denied anticipatory bail by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.14798/2025 disposed of on 27.11.2025 thereafter had not cooperated with the police for the purpose of investigation and it is under these circumstances, in charge sheet he is shown as an absconding accused. Discretionary relief under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 cannot be extended to an accused, who has absconded and not cooperated with the police for the purpose of investigation. Under these circumstances, I am of the opinion that, the prayer made by the petitioner needs to be rejected. 8. Accordingly, the following: ORDER The Criminal Petition is dismissed. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 37