- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30804 CRL.P No. 6791 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. 6791 OF 2026 BETWEEN: NIRANJAN S/O THEERTHRAJ AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS R/O BAKRAVALLI VILLAGE BIKKODU HOBLI, BELUR TALUK HASAAN DISTRICT - 573 115. …PETITIONER (BY SRI AJAY PRABHU, ADV., FOR SRI SRIKANTH N.V, ADV.) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY AREHALLI POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE - 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 CR.P.C (U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THE PRESENT PETITION BY GRANTING REGULAR BAIL TO THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED IN SPL.C.NO.426/2025 ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.81/2025 ON THE BASIS OF THE COMPLAINT MADE BY 2nd RESPONDENT REGISTERED BY AREHALLI P.S., FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 65(1),64(2)(i),64(2)(m) OF BNS, U/S 6 OF POCSO ACT, U/S 9 OF PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, PENDING BEFORE THE ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-I, HASSAN. 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:30804 CRL.P No. 6791 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Special Case No.426/2025 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-I, Hassan, arising out of Crime No.81/2025 registered by Arehalli Police Station, Hassan, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(i), 64(2)(m) and 65(1) of BNS, 2023, Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2016, 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 appearing on behalf of respondent No.1 - State. Respondent No.2, 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 by Arehalli Police Station, Hassan. During the course of investigation, petitioner was arrested on 19.09.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet has been filed against - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30804 CRL.P No. 6791 of 2026 him for the aforesaid offences. His bail application filed before the Trial Court in SC No.426/2025 was rejected on 01.12.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. A reading of the statement of the victim girl recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023, by the Court of jurisdictional Magistrate and the statement of the victim girl recorded by the Medical Officer, who had medically examined her, would reveal that she and the petitioner were in love. After the father of the victim girl came to know about the same, he had advised them. Thereafter, the victim girl had gone to the petitioners house. On 03.07.2025, when there was nobody in the house, they allegedly got married. After their marriage, victim girl had returned to her home. Subsequently, she once again went to the petitioner's house and on the said day, she allegedly had sexual intercourse with the petitioner. After coming to know about the same, father of the victim girl had contacted Child helpline and subsequently, FIR was registered against the petitioner. Petitioner, who has no other criminal antecedents, is in custody from 19.09.2025. Records would reveal that petitioner and the victim girl were in love with each other The - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30804 CRL.P No. 6791 of 2026 victim girl has not made any serious allegations against the petitioner either before the Doctor, who had medically examined her or before the learned Magistrate, who has recorded her statement under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023. Under the circumstances, the following order:- 5. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.426/2025 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-I, Hassan, arising out of Crime No.81/2025 registered by Arehalli Police Station, Hassan, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(i), 64(2)(m) and 65(1) of BNS, 2023, Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2016, 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 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30804 CRL.P No. 6791 of 2026 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.: 90