- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30066 CRL.P No. 5886 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. 5886 OF 2026 BETWEEN: ARESHKUMAR V.J @ PRAMOD S/O LATE JANARDHAN V.B AGE ABOUT 30 YEARS R/AT SUBHASHNAGARA K R PET TOWN, K R PET TALUK MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 426. …PETITIONER (BY SRI RAJASHEKAR S, ADV.) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY K R PET TOWN POLICE STATION K R PET TALUK MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 426 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. XXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R-1; R-2 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL AND PASS NECESSARY ORDER DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE THE /PETITIONER ON BAIL i.e., ACCUSED IN CRIME NO. FOR OFFENCE P/US/ 64(2)(m),351(2),75 OF BNS 2023 AND SEC.6,10,12 OF POCSO ACT 2012 ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC II MANDYA IN CRIME NO.267/2025 REGISTERED AS SPL.C.NO.51/2026. 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:30066 CRL.P No. 5886 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Special Case No.51/2026 pending before the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, FTSC-II, Mandya, arising out of Crime No.267/2025 registered by K. R. Pet Town Police Station, Mandya, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(m), 351(2) and 75 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 6, 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, 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 HCGP for respondent No.1. Respondent No.2, who is served in the matter has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No.267/2025 was registered by K. R. Pet Town Police Station, Mandya for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 29.12.2025 received from respondent No.2, who is the mother of the victim girl, who was aged about 17 years 4 months as on the said date. During the course of investigation, petitioner - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30066 CRL.P No. 5886 of 2026 herein was arrested on 31.12.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet has been filed against him for the aforesaid offences and his bail application filed before the Trial Court in SC No.51/2026 was rejected on 18.03.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Material on record would go to show that first informant and her family are staying as tenants in the house of the parents of the petitioner herein. In the first information, it is alleged that victim girl was studying in II PUC and on 20.04.2025 at about 01.30 p.m., petitioner had called her to his house when he was alone and after she came to his house, petitioner allegedly had sexual intercourse with her against her wishes and thereafter, criminally intimidated her. On these allegations, respondent No.2 had approached the police on 29.12.2025 and submitted a typed first information based on which, FIR in Crime No.267/2025 was registered against the petitioner. 5. Charge sheet material would reveal that victim and her mother had not consented for the medical examination of the victim girl. In her statement recorded by the police, the victim - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30066 CRL.P No. 5886 of 2026 girl has stated that on 20.04.2025, she had gone to the house of the petitioner when he was alone and in the said house, petitioner had sexual intercourse with her. She has also stated that thereafter on multiple occasions, petitioner had sexual intercourse with her. Though such allegations are made by her, she has not cooperated for her medical examination. According to learned counsel for the petitioner, since there was a tenancy dispute between the two families, a false complaint has been filed. Petitioner, who has no other criminal antecedents is in custody from 31.12.2025. Investigation of the case is complete and charge sheet has been filed. The trial in the case is yet to commence. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order:- 6. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.51/2026 pending before the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, FTSC-II, Mandya, arising out of Crime No.267/2025 registered by K. R. Pet Town Police Station, Mandya, for the offences punishable under Sections - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30066 CRL.P No. 5886 of 2026 64(2)(m), 351(2) and 75 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 6, 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, 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 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 DN/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 79