- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28787 CRL.P No. 2012 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO.2012 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS) BETWEEN: SMT. SOUBHAGYA @ SOUBHAGYA W/O. LATE MALLIAH, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, R/AT NO.1725, 12TH CROSS, ASHOKAPURAM, LAKSHMIPURAM, MYSORE- 570 004. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SYED ZAHEERUDDIN BAREED, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA R/BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, GUNDALPETE POLICE STATION, THROUGH STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI.RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THE ABOVE BAIL PETITION AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 417, 419, 426, 463, 468 AND 471 OF IPC ARISING OUT OF CRIME NO.254/2021 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT GUNDLUPET POLICE STATION AND PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE LD SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, GUNDLUPET IN CC NO.136/2025. Digitally signed by VANDANA S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28787 CRL.P No. 2012 of 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. Petitioner, who is apprehending his arrest in C.C.No.136/2025 pending before the Court of the Senior Civil Judge & JMFC, Gundlupete, arising out of Crime No.254/2021 registered by the Gundlupete Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the offences punishable under Sections 417, 419, 426, 463, 468 and 471 of BNS, is before this Court in this Criminal Petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for the respondent – State. 3. FIR in Crime No.254/2021 was registered by the Gundlupete Police Station, Chamarajanagar District, for the aforesaid offences after the jurisdictional Court of Magistrate had referred the private complaint in P.C.R.No.13/2020 under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. The police after investigation had filed a - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28787 CRL.P No. 2012 of 2026 ‘B’ Final Report in the said case. The complainant had opposed the said ‘B’ Final Report and the learned Magistrate by order dated 14.03.2025 has directed the Registry to register a case for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed Anticipatory Bail application in Crl.Misc.No.304/2025 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 14.08.2025. Therefore, she is before this Court. 4. Petitioner is a married lady aged about 55 years. The allegations against her in the private complaint is that she had impersonated the complainant and had made claim for the death benefit of late Mallaiah. The police after investigation have filed a ‘B’ Final Report in Crime No.254/2021 registered by the Gundlupete Police Station, Chamarajanagara. However, the learned Magistrate has not accepted the said ‘B’ Final Report and has directed registration of a criminal case against the petitioner for the aforesaid offences. It is under these circumstances, she apprehends arrest. Considering the nature of allegations against the petitioner, who is a married lady aged about 55 years and also taking into consideration that the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28787 CRL.P No. 2012 of 2026 police after investigation have filed a ‘B’ Final Report, I am of the opinion that the petitioner’s prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is to be answered in the affirmative. 5. The 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 C.C.No.136/2025 pending before the Court of the Senior Civil Judge & JMFC, Gundlupete, arising out of Crime No.254/2021 registered by the Gundlupete Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the offences punishable under Sections 417, 419, 426, 463, 468 and 471 of BNS, subject to the following conditions: a) The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- before the Trial Court with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the concerned Court. b) Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. c) Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and he shall co-operate with - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28787 CRL.P No. 2012 of 2026 the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 67