- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28646 CRL.P No. 5725 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5725 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI NAVEENA S/O SATHISHA AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS R/AT. BEML NAGARA, VR LAYOUT BANGARAPET, KOLAR DISTRICT- 563 115. …PETITIONER (BY SRI RAKSHITHA P SINGH, ADV., FOR SRI S. BALAKRISHNAN, ADV.) AND: 1. STATE BY WOMEN POLICE, CKM REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. SMT. REKHA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS W/O KUMARAPPA R/AT SINGENAHALLI VILLAGE HOLAKERE TALUK CHITHRADURGA DISTRICT - 577 526. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI RANGASWAMY R, HCGP FOR R-1; SRI HARISH N.R, ADV., FOR R-2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE HIM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.115/2025 ON THE FILE OF THE CHIKKAMAGALURU WOMEN POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 137(2) OF IPC PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28646 CRL.P No. 5725 of 2026 DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE FTSC I CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT, CHIKKAMAGALURU IN SPL.C(P) NO.33/2026. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.2 in Special Case (P).No.33 of 2026 pending before the Court of Additional District and Session Judge FTSC1 at Chikkamagaluru, arising out of Crime No.115 of 2025 registered by Chikkamagaluru Women Police Station for offences punishable under Section 6 of POCSO Act 2012 and Section 127(3), 64(2)(i) & 137(2) 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 for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.115 of 2015 was registered by Chikkamagaluru Women Police Station, Chikkamagaluru, initially for offence punishable under Section 137(2) BNS 2023 against unknown person based on the first information dated 13.12.2025 received from respondent no.2, who is the mother - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28646 CRL.P No. 5725 of 2026 of the victim girl, who was aged about 17 years as on the said date. After completing investigation, charge sheet is now filed for the aforesaid offences against two persons. Petitioner is arrayed as accused no.2 in the charge sheet. Apprehending arrest in the case petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.168 of 2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 28.03.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that, the minor daughter of the respondent no.2 herein was found missing from her hostel on 13.12.2025. It is in this background FIR was registered in Crime No.115 of 2025, for offence punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS 2023, based on the first information received from the mother of the victim girl. During the course of investigation, accused no.1 and the victim girl were traced. After completing investigation, charge sheet has been filed. 5. Allegation as against the petitioner is that he had given shelter to the accused no.1 and the victim and thereby abetted accused no.1 to commit the charge sheet offences. So - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28646 CRL.P No. 5725 of 2026 far as the petitioner is concerned, he is alleged to have committed offence punishable under Section 17 of POCSO Act. Accused no.1, who was arrested in the present case, has been granted regular bail. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. 6. 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 Special Case (P).No.33 of 2026 pending before the Court of Additional District and Session Judge FTSC1 at Chikkamagaluru, arising out of Crime No.115 of 2025 registered by Chikkamagaluru Women Police Station for offences punishable under Section 6 of POCSO Act 2012 and Section 127(3), 64(2)(i) & 137(2) of BNS 2023 subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigation Officer in the present case within - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28646 CRL.P No. 5725 of 2026 fifteen days from the date of this order on executing 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 NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 59