- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30461 CRL.P No. 6089 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. 6089 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI RAVI KUMAR M.S S/O SHANMUKHAPPA M.M AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS R/AT NO.1006, SHANTHI NILAYA 2ND MAIN ROAD, NEAR PREETHI SCHOOL T. DASARAHALLI BENGALURU - 560 057. …PETITIONER (BY SRI UNNIKRISHNAN M, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY PEENYA POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF ADVOCATE GENERAL HIGH COURT BUILDINGS BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER UNDER SECTION 483 OF THE BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023 (BNSS), IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.156/2026 REGISTERED BY PEENYA POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 108 OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 ON THE FILE OF XXXI ACJM BENGALURU. 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:30461 CRL.P No. 6089 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.1 in Crime No.156/2026 registered by Peenya Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS, 2023, 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.156/2026 was registered by Peenya Police Station, Bengaluru, for the aforesaid offence against petitioner and two others based on the first information dated 13.03.2026 received from Prathiba, wife of deceased Balakrishna V. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.2971/2026 which was rejected before the jurisdictional Sessions Court on 04.04.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the first information would go to show that first informant's husband had committed suicide by hanging himself in his factory. He allegedly left behind a death note wherein it is stated that accused Nos.1 to 3 named in the FIR were the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30461 CRL.P No. 6089 of 2026 cause for his death. He allegedly had stated in his death note that accused No.1 to 3, were due to pay him a sum of Rs.19 lakhs and they had not repaid the same and on the other hand, they were torturing him. It is under these circumstances, FIR in Crime No.156/2026 came to be registered against the petitioner and two others. 5. There is no mention of any such act committed by accused persons immediately prior to the deceased committing suicide which would have instigated or abetted him to take the drastic step of committing suicide. Therefore, a doubt arises whether necessary ingredients so as to invoke the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS, 2023, is prima facie found in the first information. Undisputedly, petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. He has undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. 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:- 6. The petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30461 CRL.P No. 6089 of 2026 the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.156/2026 registered by Peenya Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS, 2023, 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/- 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.: 88