- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29292 CRL.P No. 5599 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5599 OF 2026 BETWEEN: PRAVEEN R S/O RAMAPPA AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS PRESENT R/AT BIJJAWARA VILLAGE VIJAYAPURA HOBLI, DEVANAHALLI TQ BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT - 562 110. …PETITIONER (BY SRI GIRISH R, ADV.) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BENGALURU DISTRICT WOMEN PS NOW REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. XXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI RANGASWAMY R, HCGP FOR R-1) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO PASS AN ORDER GRANTING REGULAR BAIL THEREBY DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT BENGALURU DISTRICT WOMEN POLICE STATION TO RELEASE THE PETITION IN CR NO.149/2025 ON SPL.C NO.759/2025 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE FTSC-I BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT BENGALURU FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 4(2), 5(L) 6 OF POCSO ACT 2012 AND SECTION 137(2) OF THE BNS 2023 AND SECTION 9 OF THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT. 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 NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29292 CRL.P No. 5599 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Special Case No.759 of 2025, pending before the Court of Additional District and Section Judge- FTSC- I, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.149 of 2025 registered by Bengaluru District Women Police Station, Bengaluru District for offences punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS 2023, Section 4(2), 5(L) & 6 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 9 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 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 learned HCGP on behalf of respondent no.1. Respondent no.2, who is served in the matter has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No.149 of 2025 was registered by Bengaluru District Women Police Station, Bengaluru District, initially for offence punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023 against unknown persons, based on first information dated 03.07.2025 received from respondent no.2, who is the mother of the victim girl. During the course of investigation, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29292 CRL.P No. 5599 of 2026 petitioner herein was arrested on 08.07.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completion of investigation, charge sheet has been filed against him for the aforesaid offences. Bail application filed by him before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.2427/2025 was rejected on 24.12.2025. 4. Victim girl was found missing from her house on 22.06.2025. Efforts made to trace her had failed and therefore, belatedly on 03.07.2025, her mother had approached the police and based on her first information, a FIR was registered for offence punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023 against unknown persons. During the course of investigation, petitioner was arrested on 08.07.2025. 5. In the charge sheet, which is now filed against the petitioner, it is alleged that, on 22.06.2025 petitioner had kidnapped minor victim girl (CW2) and had married her in a temple at Dalavayi village and thereafter had sexual intercourse with her against her wish, multiple times. 6. The statement of the victim girl under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023 was recorded in the present case by the Court of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29292 CRL.P No. 5599 of 2026 jurisdictional Magistrate on 24.07.2025 wherein she has stated that she got married with the petitioner on 22.06.2025 in a temple and thereafter they stayed together in a shed. Subsequently, petitioner took her to his relative's house and they stayed there till the police came and brought them back. She has not made any allegation in her statement recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023, which would attract the alleged offences punishable under the provisions of POCSO Act against the petitioner. 7. The victim girl has been now examined before the trial Court as PW2. Undisputedly, the petitioner has no other criminal antecedents and he is in custody for the last nearly 1 year. 8. In view of the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that the petitioner's prayer for grant of regular bill needs to be answered affirmatively. 9. Accordingly, the following: ORDER The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.759 of 2025, pending before the Court of Additional - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29292 CRL.P No. 5599 of 2026 District and Section Judge- FTSC-I, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.149 of 2025 registered by Bengaluru District Women Police Station, Bengaluru District for offences punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS 2023, Section 4(2), 5(L) & 6 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 9 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, subject to the following conditions: 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 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. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29292 CRL.P No. 5599 of 2026 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 NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 67