- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30026 CRL.P No. 5363 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5363 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SMT. SUNITHA C W/O LATE RAMESH AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS BILL COLLECTOR CITY CORPORATION RESIDENCE AT VLAYA KACHEREI-2, LOKIKERE ROAD NEAR JILLA PANCHAYATH R/O MUNICIPAL QUARTERS OPP CHURCH, PJ EXTENSION DAVANAGERE DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SHARATH KUMAR G.M, ADV., FOR SRI CHALAVADI RANGAJJI, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA CEN CRIME POLICE STATION DAVANAGERE - 571 511 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CRIME NO.3/2026 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT CEN CRIME POLICE FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/US/ 336(2)(3),318(3),319(2),61(2) R/W SEC.3(5) OF BNS AND SEC.66(C),(D) OF IT ACT 2000. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30026 CRL.P No. 5363 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.1 in Crime No. 3 of 2026 registered by the Davanagere CEN Crime Police Station, Davanagere District for offences punishable under Sections 318(3), 319(2), 336(3), 336(2), 61(2) R/w Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section 66(C) & 66(D) of the Information and Technology Act, 2000 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.3 of 2026 was registered by the Davanagere Crime Police Station, Davanagere District for the aforesaid offences against unknown persons, based on the first information dated 07.01.2026, received from Sri Nagaraj K, Zonal Commissioner,. Davanagere City Corporation. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Criminal No. 217 of 2026 before the jurisdictional station court which was rejected on 16.03.2026. Therefore, she is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30026 CRL.P No. 5363 of 2026 4. Allegation against the accused in the first information is that they have illegally transferred properties situated within the jurisdiction of Davanagere City Municipal Corporation in the E-Asti system, without issuing notice to the concerned officers, by colluding with brokers and thereby cheated the State Government and also the general public. 5. The petitioner is working as a bill collector in the City Municipal Corporation of Davanagere for the last several years. Undisputedly, she has no other criminal antecedents. The exact role played by the petitioner is not forthcoming in the first information. Petitioner who is a married lady, aged about 41 years has undertaken before this Court to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. The alleged offences are triable by the Court of Magistrate and maximum punishment for the same is imprisonment for a period of seven years. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. 6. Accordingly, the following: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30026 CRL.P No. 5363 of 2026 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 her arrest in Crime No. 3 of 2026 registered by the Davanagere CEN Crime Police Station, Davanagere District for offences punishable under Sections 318(3), 319(2), 336(3), 336(2), 61(2) R/w Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section 66(C) & 66(D) of the Information and Technology Act, 2000 subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order on executing 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 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 she shall co-operate with - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30026 CRL.P No. 5363 of 2026 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.: 71