- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32316 CRL.P No. 6790 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6790 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. DINESH @ DINESH KUMAR S/O. SURENDRAN AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS R/AT. RENJINI VIHAR KALAI KIZHAKKEKARA MANNADI POST, KADAMBANAD VILLAGE ADOOR TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT KERALA, PIN 691 523. …PETITIONER (BY SMT. VEDAVATHI .G.K, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY UPPARPET POLICE STATION BENGALURU. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT COMPLEX BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/SEC.438 CR.P.C (U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE REGISTERED BY Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32316 CRL.P No. 6790 of 2026 UPPARPET P.S., TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CR.NO.370/2025, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 376 OF IPC, PENDING BEFORE THE V ACJM, BENGALURU. 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 Crime No.370/2025 registered by the Upparpet Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offence punishable under Section 376 of IPC is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 (for short 'BNSS, 2023') seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.370/2025 was registered by the Upparpet Police Station, Bengaluru City against the petitioner herein for the aforesaid offences based on the first information dated 30.12.2025 received from the victim lady aged about 34 years. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32316 CRL.P No. 6790 of 2026 Crl.Misc.No.2150/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 25.03.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the first information would go to show that in respect of the alleged incident that had taken place on 16.02.2024, the first Informant had initially approached Chengannor Police Station, Alappuzha in Kerala State on 23.12.2025 and based on her first information, FIR was registered in Crime No.1083/2025 for the offence punishable under Section 376 of IPC. Subsequently, for want of jurisdiction, the said FIR was transferred to Upparpet Police Station, Bengaluru City and the case was registered in Crime No.370/2025. 5. In the first information, the alleged victim has averred that she got acquainted with one Vinu @ Bineesh from Palakkad through Instagram and he allegedly promised her to provide employment in Bengaluru. On her way to Bengaluru, she had met the petitioner, who - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32316 CRL.P No. 6790 of 2026 allegedly informed her that he was a priest in a temple at Kerala and he offered to accompany her. On 16.02.2024, the victim and petitioner, who came to Bengaluru in a train, allegedly checked into a Hotel at Yeshwanthpura. On the same day, at about 11.00 a.m., Vinu @ Bineesh took the victim girl to his flat and allegedly had sexual intercourse with her. Thereafter, when the victim girl came back to the hotel room, the petitioner allegedly misbehaved with her and after pushing her to the ground, he allegedly inserted his finger into her private part. In respect of the alleged incident that had taken place on 16.02.2024, for the first time, the victim girl had approached the Kerala Police on 24.08.2025, which is after a delay of more than 15 months. The petitioner aged 55 years has no criminal antecedents. He has undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Under the circumstances, the following; ORDER (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32316 CRL.P No. 6790 of 2026 (ii) 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.370/2025 registered by the Upparpet Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offence punishable under Section 376 of IPC subject to the following conditions:- 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within fifteen days from the date of this order on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. The petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with the Police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32316 CRL.P No. 6790 of 2026 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 47