- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27603 CRL.P No. 6331 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6331 OF 2026 BETWEEN: NAGARAJ C.N S/O NANJUNDAPPA AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS RESIDING AT CHOWTAKUNTAHALLI VILLAGE, GUDIBANDE TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 561 209. …PETITIONER (BY SRI BHASKAR GOWDA N.M, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY GOWRIBIDANUR TOWN POLICE STATION CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 561 208 REP. BY SPP, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 316(4) AND 318(4) OF BNS REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT POLICE IN CR.NO.201/2025 PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRL.CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND J.M.F.C GOWRIBIDANUR REGISTERED BY THE GOWRIBIDANUR TOWN POLICE AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST BY ALLOWING THIS PETITION. 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:27603 CRL.P No. 6331 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.6 in Crime No.201/2025 registered by Gowribadanur Police Station, Chikkaballapura District for the offence punishable under Sections 316(4) & 318(4), of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and HCGP on behalf of respondent - State. 3. FIR in Crime No.201/2025 registered by Gowribadanur Police Station, Chikkaballapura District for the aforesaid offences on the basis of first information dated 30.10.2025 received from Sri Suresh M N, who is the Unit Manager of the Finance Company against one Ranganatha and others. In the said FIR, petitioner is arraigned as accused no.6. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed petition before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.750/2025, which was heard and rejected on 19.01.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27603 CRL.P No. 6331 of 2026 4. Perusal of the averments found in the first information dated 30.10.2025 would go to show that petitioner was earlier working as a field assistant in the complainant company and allegation against him is that he had misappropriated a sum of ₹.74,583/- during the course of discharging his duty. Similar allegations are found even as against the other accused named in the FIR. Accused nos.1 to 4 and 6 have been granted anticipatory bail by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Criminal Petition No.16957 of 2025 disposed of on 02.02.2026. Accused no. 5, who was arrested in the present case is said to have been granted regular bail by the jurisdictional Court of Magistrate. 5. The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Alleged offences are triable by the Court of Magistrate and maximum punishment for the same is imprisonment for period of seven years. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that, the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be allowed subject to appropriate conditions. 6. Accordingly, the following: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27603 CRL.P No. 6331 of 2026 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.201/2025 registered by Gowribadanur Police Station, Chikkaballapura District for the offence punishable under Sections 316(4) & 318(4), of BNS, 2023subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order on executing 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 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 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27603 CRL.P No. 6331 of 2026 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 NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 58