- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28306 CRL.P No. 5022 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5022 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI. M.G. NANJUNDASWAMY S/O LATE GURU MALLIKARJUNAIAH M C, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, R/AT I D HALLI VILLAGE, MADHUGIRI TALUK, TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 124. …PETITIONER (BY SRI RAVIKUMARA B.R, ADV.) AND: STATE BY LOKAYUKTHA POLICE TUMAKURU DIVISION, REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI B. LETHIF, ADV.,) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT BAIL TO THIS PETITIONER IN CR.NO.14/2022 (NOW NUQMBERED AS SPL. CASE NO.54/2026 ON THE FILE OF VII ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPECIAL JUDGE, TUMAKURU) FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 7(A) AND 7(B) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988, BY LOKAYUKTHA POLICE TUMKUR. 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 Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28306 CRL.P No. 5022 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.2 in Special Case No.54 of 2026 pending before the Court of VII Additional District and Session Judge and Special Judge, Tumakuru arising out of Crime No.14 of 2022 registered by Lokayuktha Police, Tumakuru for offences punishable under Section 7(b), 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amendment 2018) is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.14 of 2022 was registered by Lokayuktha Police Station, Tumakuru, initially for the offence punishable under Section 7(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the petitioner herein and another. In the said case, after filing of charge sheet, non bailable warrant was issued to the petitioner herein who was arrayed as accused no.2 in the charge sheet. His presence was therefore secured before the trial Court on 26.02.2026. On the said day, he was remanded to judicial custody. Thereafter, his bail application filed before - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28306 CRL.P No. 5022 of 2026 the trial Court in Crl.Misc.No.400 of 2026 was rejected on 17.03.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that on the merits of the case the petitioner was granted anticipatory bail in the present case at crime stage by the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.1105/2022 disposed of on 10.08.2022. After completing investigation, charge sheet was filed and in the charge sheet, petitioner is arraigned as accused No.2. The trial Court thereafter had issued non-bailable warrant against the accused and the petitioner's presence was secured before the trial Court on 02.03.2026 and on said day trial Court has remanded him to judicial custody. 5. The maximum punishment for the alleged offence is imprisonment for a period of seven years. The petitioner is working as a driver in BESCOM at Madhugiri taluk, Tumakuru District. Therefore, the chances of he fleeing away from justice is not there. Even otherwise on the merits of the case, he was granted anticipatory bail by the Trial Court at the crime stage itself. Therefore, the trial Court was not justified in rejecting his - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28306 CRL.P No. 5022 of 2026 regular bail application after charge sheet was filed. Under the circumstances, the following:- ORDER Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.54 of 2026 pending before the Court of VII Additional District and Session Judge and Special Judge, Tumakuru arising out of Crime No.14 of 2022 registered by Lokayuktha Police, Tumakuru for offences punishable under Section 7(b), 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amendment 2018), subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner 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 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; c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28306 CRL.P No. 5022 of 2026 d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future; Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 57