- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28785 CRL.P No. 911 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.911 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS) BETWEEN: SRI BHARATHA @ NIDDE BHARATHA S/O. RAJU, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/O PALAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST, SRIRANGAPATNA TALUK, MANDYA - 571 438. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SAMPATH KUMAR G.A, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, AMBEDKAR BEEDHI, BENGALURU – 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL IN S.C.NO.5044/2025 (IN CR.NO.16/2025 OF SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 189(2), 191(3), 49, 54, 61(2)(A), 115(2), 238, 118, 352, 249, 103(1), 109(1), 190 OF BNS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HON’BLE III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE (SITTING AT SRIRANGAPATNA). 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 VANDANA S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28785 CRL.P No. 911 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.11 in S.C.No.5044/2025 pending before the III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya (Sitting at Srirangapatna) arising out of Crime No.16/2025 registered by the Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya City, for the offences punishable under Sections 189(2), 191(3), 49, 54, 61(2)(a), 115(2), 238, 118, 352, 249, 103(1), 109(1) and 190 of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this Criminal Petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS seeking regular bail. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for the respondent – State. 3. FIR in Crime No.16/2025 was registered by the Srirangapatna Town Police Station, Mandya, against one Pramod and others based on the first information dated 19.01.2025 received from Shruthi, sister of deceased Supreeth. During the course of investigation, petitioner was arrested on 24.01.2025 and remanded for judicial custody. After completion of investigation, charge sheet has been filed in the present case as against 22 persons. The petitioner herein is arraigned as - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28785 CRL.P No. 911 of 2026 accused No.11 in the Charge Sheet. The bail application filed by the petitioner before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in S.C.No.5044/2025 was rejected on 12.11.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. According to the prosecution, the accused persons had an ill-will against the deceased Supreeth @ Suppi and therefore they had conspired to commit his murder. In furtherance of such conspiracy, on 18.01.2025, the accused persons had gone near the house of Supreeth. When accused Nos.1, 2, 3, 5, 6 to 11 came to the spot of crime, only CW2 was present and other accused after enquiring about the whereabouts of Supreeth allegedly assaulted him. Allegations as against the petitioner, who is arrayed as accused No.11 is that he was present along with other accused persons at the said time. Allegations of assaulting CW2 with deadly weapons is found in the charge sheet only as against accused Nos.1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Subsequently, Supreeth also came to the said spot and thereafter accused Nos.1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 allegedly assaulted Supreeth with deadly weapons and when he fell down accused Nos.2 and 3 allegedly dropped a stone on his head and - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28785 CRL.P No. 911 of 2026 committed his murder. Undisputedly, petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. Accused No.12 has been granted regular bail in the present case by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.14023/2025 on 01.12.2025. Petitioner is in custody in the present case from 24.01.2025 onwards. Trial in the case is yet to commence. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, more so the nature of allegations against petitioner and the fact that there are no criminal antecedents as against the petitioner herein, I am of the view that his prayer for grant of regular bail is to be answered in the affirmative. 5. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in S.C.No.5044/2025 pending before the III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya (Sitting at Srirangapatna) arising out of Crime No.16/2025 registered by the Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya City, for the offences punishable under Sections 189(2), 191(3), 49, 54, 61(2)(a), 115(2), 238, 118, 352, 249, 103(1), 109(1) and 190 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28785 CRL.P No. 911 of 2026 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; 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 off. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 64