- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34243 CRL.P No. 6922 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. 6922 OF 2026 (439(CR.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SRI RAJENDRA V S/O LATE VARADARAJU AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS R/AT 17/32, 2ND E CROSS BOOPASANDRA NEW EXTENSION RMV 2ND STAGE BENGALURU-560 094. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MADHUKAR M D., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HALASURGATE POLICE STATION CORPORATION CIRCLE BENGLAURU 560 002 REP. BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT COMPLEX BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ASPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CR.NO.0057/2026 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT I.E HALASURUGATE P.S. FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 178,179,180 OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE XLVIII A.C.J.M BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by DHANALAKSHMI MURTHY Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34243 CRL.P No. 6922 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.2 in Crime No.57/2026 registered by Halasur Gate Police Station, Bengaluru, for offences punishable under Sections 178, 179 and 180 of BNS, 2023, is before this Court in this criminal petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail. 2. Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned Addl. SPP appearing for respondent-State. 3. FIR in Crime No.57/2026 was registered by Halasur Gate Police Station, Bengaluru, for the aforesaid offences against Ramesh.S.V. based on the first information dated 09.04.2026 received from Mr.Bhim Chaudhary, son of Late Lakhan Chaudhary, Officer of Reserve Bank of India, Bengaluru. In the said case, petitioner herein was arrested on 09.04.2026 along with accused No.1 and was remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34243 CRL.P No. 6922 of 2026 Crl.Misc.No.3918/2026 was rejected on 28.04.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 09.04.2026, it is averred that accused No.1, Ramesh, had visited the Reserve Bank of India on 09.04.2026 at about 11 a.m. – 12 noon and had deposited 375 notes of Rs.2,000 denomination with a request to credit exchange value to his bank account. On verification, it was found that the aforesaid 375 notes were counterfeit notes and it is under these circumstances, the Officer of the Bank had approached the Police and based on his first information, FIR was registered against Ramesh.S.V. 5. During the course of investigation, accused Nos.1 to 3 were arrested. Material available on record would go to show that petitioner is the friend of accused No.1. The statement of Smt.Gangamma, wife of accused No.3- Hanumantha, was recorded on 10.04.2026 and her statement under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023 before the jurisdictional Magistrate was recorded on 23.04.2026. She - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34243 CRL.P No. 6922 of 2026 had stated that on 06.04.2026, she had found the aforesaid 375 notes of Rs.2000 denomination, which were lying near a garbage bin and having picked up the same, she had handed over the said notes to her husband (accused No.3), who in turn had contacted the petitioner (accused No.2). Subsequently, the petitioner along with accused No.3 had handed over the notes to accused No.1, who had approached the Reserve Bank with a request to credit exchange value to his bank account. 6. Accused No.1 has been granted regular bail by this Court in Criminal Petition No.7072/2026 disposed of on 25.06.2026. Allegation as against the petitioner and accused No.1 are similar. It is brought to the notice of this Court that petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. 7. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following order: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34243 CRL.P No. 6922 of 2026 ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.57/2026 registered by Halasur Gate Police Station, Bengaluru, for offences punishable under Sections 178, 179 and 180 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute 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 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; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34243 CRL.P No. 6922 of 2026 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 DM LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 50