- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30614 CRL.P No. 6132 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. 6132 OF 2026 BETWEEN: NAVEEN S/O LATE MUNIYAPPA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS PRESENT R/O ITHARASANAHALLI VILLAGE, NAYAKARAHALLI POST HOLURU HOBLI, KOLAR TALUK. …PETITIONER (BY SRI LAKSHMI KESHAV S, ADV.) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY WOMENS POLICE STATION KOLAR REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. XXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R-1; VIDE ORDER DATED 22.06.2026 NOTICE TO R-2 HELD SUFFICIENT) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.84/2025 OF WOMEN POLICE STATION, KOLAR NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, SHIVAMOGGA ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC I (POCSO) AT KOLAR IN SPL.C(POCSO) NO.120/2025 (CHARGE SHEETED FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 137(2),65(1),351(2) OF BNS AND SEC.4(2) OF POCSO ACT. 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:30614 CRL.P No. 6132 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Special Case (POCSO) No.120/2025 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-I, Kolar, arising out of Crime No.84/2025 registered by Kolar Women Police Station, Kolar, for the offences punishable under Sections 137(2), 65(1) and 351(2) of BNS, 2023 and Section 4(2) of the POCSO 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 parties. 3. FIR in the present case was registered against unknown persons initially for the offences punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023, based on the first information dated 28.08.2025 received from Kumar, who is the father of the victim girl, who was aged about 15 years four months as on the alleged date of incident. During the course of investigation, petitioner herein was arrested on 24.10.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet has been filed against him for the aforesaid offences. His bail - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30614 CRL.P No. 6132 of 2026 application filed before the Trial Court in Special Case (POCSO) No.120/2025 was rejected on 30.12.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Father of the victim girl had approached the police on 28.08.2025 after the victim girl was found missing from their house and efforts made to trace her had failed. During the course of investigation, victim girl was traced and petitioner was arrested in the present case on 24.10.2025 and the statement of the victim girl under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023, was recorded by the Court of jurisdictional Magistrate on 22.09.2025. In the said statement, victim girl has stated that petitioner, who got acquainted to her through her uncle, proposed to marry her for which she had rejected. On 28.08.2025, petitioner who came near her house induced the victim girl to accompany him and thereafter, he took her to a house belonging to one Narasimha Murthy/CW4 and he had represented to Narasimha Murthy that the victim, who is his uncle's daughter was aged 19 years. Victim girl has stated that in an under construction house belonging to CW4, petitioner had sexual intercourse with her multiple times. She has also - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30614 CRL.P No. 6132 of 2026 stated that subsequently, he had given her a sum of Rs.250/- and has asked her to return home. 5. Material on record would go to show that petitioner is a married man having two children. He had deserted his wife and children and thereafter, had represented to the victim girl his intention to marry her. Subsequently, he has induced her to accompany him and had sexually exploited her. Thereafter, he has asked her to return to her house. These allegations make out a prima facie case for the alleged offences as against the petitioner. Under the circumstances, at this stage, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail cannot be granted. Accordingly, the following order:- 6. The Criminal Petition is dismissed with liberty to the petitioner to renew his bail application before the Trial Court after the victim girl is examined. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 79