- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29000 CRL.P No. 5844 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. 5844 OF 2026 BETWEEN: NAVEEN M S/O LATE MUTHURAJA AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS R/AT. NEAR MARAMMA TEMPLE MANCHAPURA VILLAGE AND POST RAMAPURA HOBLI, HANUR TALUK CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT PIN - 571 444. …PETITIONER (BY SRI MALLESHA V, ADV.) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY J.P. NAGAR POLICE STATION BENGALURU, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT COMPLEX BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. XXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI RAKSHITH R, ADV.,) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITION ON BAIL IN CR NO.26/2026 OF RESPONDENT JP NAGAR POLICE FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/U/S 74, 78, 79, 115(2), 351 OF THE BNS 2023 AND SECTIONS 8 AND 12 OF POCSO ACT 2012 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-I BENGALURU. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29000 CRL.P No. 5844 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. Accused in Spl.CC.No.1025/2026 pending before the Court of Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.26/2026 registered by Jayaprakash Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 8 & 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012, and Sections 74, 351, 115(2), 78, 79 of BNS, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Addl. SPP on behalf of respondent no.1-State. Respondent no.2 who is served in the matter has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No.26/2026 was registered by Jayaprakash Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 28.02.2026 received from respondent no.2 who is the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29000 CRL.P No. 5844 of 2026 mother of the victim girl, aged 16 years 3 months as on the alleged date of incident. 4. During the course of investigation, petitioner herein was arrested on 01.03.2026. Investigation of the case is completed and charge sheet is filed against the petitioner for the aforesaid offences. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl. Misc. No.2773/2026 was rejected on 02.04.2026. Therefore, petitioner is before this Court. 5. The allegation against the petitioner is that he was allegedly pestering the victim girl to love him. On 28.02.2026 at about 9.20 p.m., first informant was informed that petitioner was assaulting one Bharath on the allegation that the said Bharath was in relationship with the victim girl. Petitioner, thereafter, allegedly also abused the first informant and her minor daughter and allegedly misbehaved with the minor daughter of the first informant by touching her chest inappropriately. Petitioner, aged 27 years is in custody from 01.03.2026. Investigation of the case is already completed. The maximum punishment for the said alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of five years. Under the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29000 CRL.P No. 5844 of 2026 circumstances, I am of the opinion that petitioner's prayer for grant of regular bail is required to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: 6. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Spl.CC.No.1025/2026 pending before the Court of Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.26/2026 registered by Jayaprakash Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 8 & 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012, and Sections 74, 351, 115(2), 78, 79 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- 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:29000 CRL.P No. 5844 of 2026 d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK