- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33013 CRL.P No. 4627 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4627 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MR. DIGVIJAY SINGH S/O LALJI SING AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS ONE OF THE PARTENR IN JAI MAA AMBEY TRADING COMPANY AHIRAULI KHEMPUR DISTRICT AMBEDKAR NAGAR ADHAR NO. 6056 65883979 UTTAR PRADESH 224157 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AKASH B SHETTY., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY NORTH CEN CRIME PS BENGALURU CITY KAR NATAKA REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU 560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO DIRECT THE NORTH CEN CRIME POLICE BENGALURU CITY TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER IN THE EVENT OF THE ARREST BY GRANTING Digitally signed by JUANITA THEJESWINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33013 CRL.P No. 4627 of 2026 ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CR.NO.697/2025 DATED 13.10.2025, PENDING ON FILE OF THE BOARD OF THE HONBLE 45TH ADDL.C.J.M COURT, BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 66(C), 66(D) OF I.T ACT, 2000 AND SEC.318(4) OF BNS, 2023, WITH CONDITIONS AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused in Crime No.697/2025 registered by North CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, is before this Court in this criminal petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.697/2025 was registered by CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru, for the aforesaid offences against Nagarahalli Basavanna, on the basis of the first - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33013 CRL.P No. 4627 of 2026 information dated 13.10.2025 received from Mahesh Kumar S., S/o Shivakumar. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.530/2026 before the Jurisdictional Sessions Court and the same was rejected on 05.02.2026. Therefore, the petitioner is before this Court 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner having reiterated the grounds urged in the petition, prays to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, learned Additional State Public Prosecutor has opposed the bail application and prays to dismiss the petition. 6. A reading of the complaint averments dated 13.10.2025 would go to show that that the first informant had deposited total sum of Rs.41,32,000/- during the period from 23.08.2025 to 03.10.2025 for the purpose of online trading. It is the case of the first informant that the persons who got acquainted to him in a Whatsapp Group had induced him to deposit money for online trading with - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33013 CRL.P No. 4627 of 2026 an assurance that he will get high returns. The allegation of the first informant is that subsequently he was neither paid any returns nor was the investment amount refunded. 7. Petitioner is said to be a Partner of a firm known as M/s. Jai Maa Ambey Trading Company. Enquiry notice has been issued by the police to the said trading company. Petitioner has produced copy of the Partnership Deed of the aforesaid company in which there are totally three Partners. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner has no other criminal antecedent and is ready and willing to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. 8. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the investigation and also taking into consideration that the alleged offences are triable by Court of Magistrate and maximum punishment for the same offence is for a period of 7 years, I am of the considered opinion that the prayer - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33013 CRL.P No. 4627 of 2026 made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail is required to be answered affirmatively with liberty to the Investigation Officer to file necessary application before the jurisdictional Court seeking custody of the petitioner, if it becomes necessary. Accordingly, the following: ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. 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.697/2025 registered by North CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 318(4) of the BNS, 2023 and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, subject to the following conditions: 1. Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer of the present case at 10.30 a.m., on 15.07.2026 and on the said date the investigation officer is at liberty to take the - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33013 CRL.P No. 4627 of 2026 petitioner to custody for the purpose of interrogation. 2. It is made clear that on the same day on or before 06.00 p.m., petitioner shall be released subject to he executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (one lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. 3. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 4. 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. 5. Petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DL/ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 39