- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34448 CRL.P No. 7431 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 7431 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MR. KIRAN @ KIRAN KUMAR R S/O LATE RAMASWAMY AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS R/AT NO. 76, DODDAMANNUGUDDE KASABA HOBLI, BILAGUMBA POST BILAGUMBA, RAMANAGARA - 562 159. …PETITIONER (BY SRI KUMARA K.G, ADV.) AND: STATE BY KARNATAKA BY RAMANAGARA RURAL PS RAMANAGARA - 562 159 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN CRIME NO.92/2026, REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT RAMANAGARA RURAL POLICE FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 115(2), 79, 351(2), 74 AND 352 R/W 3(5) OF BNS 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF 1ST ADDL.CIVI JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, RAMANAGARA DIST., RAMANAGARA. 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:34448 CRL.P No. 7431 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.1 in Crime No.92 of 2026 registered by Ramanagara Rural Police Station, Bangalore South for offences punishable under Section 115(2), 79, 351(2), 74 & 352 R/w Section 3(5) 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.92 of 2026 was registered by Ramanagara Rural Police Station, Bangalore South for the aforesaid offences against petitioner herein and four others, based on the first information dated 04.05.2026 received from the alleged victim lady, aged about 25 years. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.341 of 2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court along with accused nos.2 to 5, which was dismissed as against him and allowed as against accused nos.2 to 5 by order dated - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34448 CRL.P No. 7431 of 2026 16.05.2026. It is under these circumstances, the petitioner is before this Court. 4. A reading of the first information dated 04.05.2026. submitted by the victim lady would go to show that, she is a divorcee having a 6-year-old son and was staying in her mother's house, after her divorce. In her first information, she has alleged that, on 12.04.2026, she had received a phone call on her mobile phone from the petitioner, who had asked her to forward her nude photographs and had offered to pay sum of ₹.30,00,000/- for her nude photographs. 5. The first informant had informed her mother about the offer made by the petitioner and therefore a panchayat was held in their village on 28.04.2026 and petitioner allegedly had apologised for the mistake committed by him. She has alleged that in the said panchayat, accused nos.2 to 5 were also present and on 03.05.2026, accused no.2, who is a police constable threatened her stating that in the event she gets the petitioner arrested, he will really get her raped. In the first information it is stated that thereafter, the victim lady had - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34448 CRL.P No. 7431 of 2026 consumed BP tablets and tried to commit suicide and therefore, she was admitted in hospital. 6. From the averments found in the first information, it is apparent that, in respect of the allegations found against the petitioner, with regard to the incident that had taken place on 12.04.2026, panchayath was held and after the petitioner had apologized, no further action was taken as against him. In the subsequent incident that had taken place on 03.05.2026, the allegation is only as against accused no.2 and others. Accused nos.2 to 5 have been granted anticipatory bail by the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.341 of 2026. Petitioner who has no other criminal antecedents has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Under the circumstances, 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.92 of 2026 registered by Ramanagara - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34448 CRL.P No. 7431 of 2026 Rural Police Station, Bangalore South for offences punishable under Section 115(2), 79, 351(2), 74 & 352 R/w Section 3(5) of BNS 2023 subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties 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. 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 5