- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30676 CRL.P No. 6211 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6211 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. SACHIN S C S/O CHANDRAKUMAR, AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, R/AT SHANTHIPURA VILLAGE, SHANTHIGRAMA HOBLI, HASSAN TALUK AND DISTRICT-573 201 … PETITIONER (BY SRI. ANANDA H.J., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY P.S.I. SHANTHIGRAMA POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001 2. MALLESHA S/O H.DODDAMALLAIAH (FATHER NATURAL GUARDIAN TO VICTIM GIRL) AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS Digitally signed by VIJAYA P Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30676 CRL.P No. 6211 of 2026 R/AT JAGARAVALLI VILLAGE SHANTHIGRAMA HOBLI HASSAN TALUK AND DISTRICT - 573 201 … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R1; R2 - SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.P FILED 483 BNSS, 2023, PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER BY GRANTING BAIL IN CRIME NO.108/2025 OF SHANTHIGRAMA POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 137(2), 64(2)(m) OF BNS 2023 AND U/S. 6 OF POCSO ACT 2012 WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-I AT HASAN IN SPL.CASE NO.375/2025 ON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused in Spl.C.No.375/2025 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge-FTSC-I, Hassan, arising out of Crime No.108/2025 registered by Shanthigrama Police Station, Hassan, for the offences punishable under Sections 137(2), 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as 'BNS, 2023' for short) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (hereinafter referred to - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30676 CRL.P No. 6211 of 2026 as 'POCSO Act'), is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned HCGP for the respondent/State. Respondent No.2, father of the victim girl, who is served in the matter has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in the present case was registered for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 03.07.2025, received from the victim girl aged 17 years. During the course of investigation, petitioner herein was arrested on 03.07.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet has been filed against him for the aforesaid offences. 4. The statement of the victim girl, who was studying in second year PUC has been recorded by the jurisdictional Magistrate under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. on - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30676 CRL.P No. 6211 of 2026 05.08.2025. A reading of the same would reveal that the victim girl and the petitioner were in love with each other and at her instance, petitioner had taken the victim girl along with him and they had stayed in petitioner's house for a period of 3 days. She has stated that when they stayed in petitioner's house, they had sexual intercourse. The victim girl who was studying in second year PUC had completed 17 years of age as on the said date and therefore, she was prudent enough to know the consequences of the act committed to her. She has stated that she is in love with the petitioner and had voluntarily gone with him. Petitioner who is aged 26 years has no criminal antecedents and he is in custody for the last nearly 1 year. Investigation of the case is completed and charge sheet has been filed. 5. 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 subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30676 CRL.P No. 6211 of 2026 ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Spl.C.No.375/2025 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge-FTSC-I, Hassan, arising out of Crime No.108/2025 registered by Shanthigrama Police Station, Hassan, for the offences punishable under Sections 137(2), 64(2)(m) of the BNS, 2023 and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 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 date 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; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30676 CRL.P No. 6211 of 2026 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 of. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE VP