- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30408 CRL.P No. 6502 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6502 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MR. GOVINDRAJU S/O D. SIDDAIAH AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS 10/247 RAMASWAMY LAYOUT KARINANJAPURA KASABA HOBLI, CHAMARAJANAGAR TALUKU SOMAVARPETE KARNATAKA - 571 115. …PETITIONER (BY SRI DHRUVA K, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHAMARAJANAGAR TOWN POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI RANGASWAMY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH CR.NO.31/2026 REGISTERED BY THE CHAMARAJANAGAR TOWN P.S. FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 9 OF KARNATAKA STATE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 2010 AND SEC.420 OF IPC 1860 PENDING ON THE FILE OF ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE (SR.DN) AND C.J.M COURT CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT CHAMARAJANAGARA. 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:30408 CRL.P No. 6502 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.31/2026 registered by Chamarajanagar Town Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the offences punishable under Section 420 of IPC and Section 9 of the Karnataka State Public Records Act, 2010, 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.31/2026 was registered by Chamarajanagar Town Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 20.02.2026 submitted by Girija B, Tahsildar, Chamarajanagar Taluk. The allegation in the first information is that the petitioner, who was working as Second Division Assistant in the Taluk Office at Chamarajanagar, had misplaced some files which he had received, but was found to be missing thereafter. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has brought to the notice of this Court that petitioner has retired from service in - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30408 CRL.P No. 6502 of 2026 the year 2023 itself. FIR in the present case has been registered in the year 2026. Petitioner has no criminal antecedents and he has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. The alleged offences are triable by the Court of Magistrate and the maximum punishment for the alleged offences 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. Accordingly, the following order: 5. The 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 his arrest in Crime No.31/2026 registered by Chamarajanagar Town Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the offences punishable under Section 420 of IPC and Section 9 of the Karnataka State Public Records Act, 2010, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30408 CRL.P No. 6502 of 2026 with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and he shall co-operate with 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 DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 60