- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28085 CRL.P No. 17719 of 2025 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. 17719 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. SANJEEVAPPA S/O LATE SIDDAPPA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, R/AT A K GOLLAHALLI VILLAGE, MANCHENAHALLI HOBLI, CHIKKABALLAPURA TALUKU KARNATAKA -562 101 … PETITIONER (BY SRI. S VIDYA., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY GOWRIBIDANURU RURAL POLICE STATION CHIKKABALLAPURA REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560 001 … RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 483 BNSS, 2023, PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE ABOVE NAMED PETITIONER, FILED BY GOWRIBIDANUR P.S., ARRAYED AS ACCUSED NO.1 ON BAIL IN SC.NO.72/2024, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE I ADDL. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28085 CRL.P No. 17719 of 2025 DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, CHIKKABALLAPURA, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 302, 201, 34 OF IPC. 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. 1 in S.C.No. 72/2024 pending on the file of the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chikkaballapura, arising out of Crime No. 121/2024 registered by Gowribidanur Police Station, Chikkaballapura, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as 'IPC' for short), is before this Court in this bail petition filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned HCGP for the respondent/State. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28085 CRL.P No. 17719 of 2025 3. FIR in Crime No. 121/2024 was registered by the Gowribidanur Police Station, against the petitioner and another based on the first information dated 07.05.2024 received from Smt. Sumarani, who is the daughter of deceased Aluvelamma. During the course of investigation, petitioner herein was arrested on 07.05.2024 and after completing the investigation, charge sheet has been filed against two persons. Petitioner is arraigned as accused No.1 in the charge sheet. His bail petition filed before the trial Court in S.C.No.72/2024 was rejected on 14.07.2025. Therefore, he is before this court. 4. The first informant in the present case is the daughter of deceased. The mother of the first informant who is the deceased was missing from 04.05.2024 onwards. On 07.05.2024 her dead body was traced and thereafter FIR in the present case was registered against the petitioner and another since the first informant suspected their act in the death of her mother. During the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28085 CRL.P No. 17719 of 2025 course of investigation, accused Nos. 1 and 2 were arrested on 07.05.2024 and remanded to judicial custody. 5. In the charge sheet which is filed subsequently, it is alleged that accused no. 1 had illicit relationship with deceased Aluvelamma. Subsequently, he developed intimacy with accused No. 2 and therefore, Aluvelamma allegedly had quarrelled with accused No.1. It is under these circumstances, accused Nos. 1 and 2 allegedly decided to eliminate Aluvelamma and on 04.05.2024, accused Nos. 1 and 2 made Aluvelamma to consume alcohol and thereafter smothered her to death. 6. The entire case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. Accused No. 2 has been granted regular bail in Crl.P.No. 12436/2024. Though some of the charge sheet witnesses have stated that on the alleged date of incident, they had seen accused Nos. 1 and 2 carrying Aluvelamma, the fact remains that after she was missing from 04.05.2024 onwards, till her dead body was - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28085 CRL.P No. 17719 of 2025 recovered, they had not informed about the same to the family members of the deceased. Petitioner who is the agriculturist has no other criminal antecedents and he is in judicial custody for the last more than 2 years. 7. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in S.C.No. 72/2024 pending on the file of the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chikkaballapura, arising out of Crime No. 121/2024 registered by Gowribidanur Police Station, Chikkaballapura, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of IPC, subject to the following conditions: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28085 CRL.P No. 17719 of 2025 a) The 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 date 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; 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 of. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE VP