- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35610 CRL.P No. 10010 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10010 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. SRI BASAVARAJ SHEELAVANTAR AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS S/O SANKAPPA R/AT HOSPETE GALLI, WARD NO.4 ILAKAL (RURAL), BAGALKOTE BAGALKOTE DISTRICT, KARNATAKA - 587 101. …PETITIONER (BY SRI GANAPATHI BHAT, ADV.) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY RURAL POLICE STATION CHIKKAMAGALURU REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDINGS BENGALURU 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.P.C (U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT AN ORDER OF ANTICIPATORY BAIL, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT CHIKKAMAGALURU RURAL POLICE TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER/ ACCUSED NO.1 FORTHWITH ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.46/2026 OF CHIKKAMAGALURU RURAL POLICE STATION, REGISTERED FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 108 R/W 3(5) OF THE BNS, 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF I ADDL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, CHIKKAMAGALURU. 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:35610 CRL.P No. 10010 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.1 in Crime No.46 of 2026 registered by Chikkamagaluru Rural Police Station for the offence punishable under Section 108 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 petitioner and learned Additional State Public Prosecutor on behalf of the respondent - State. 3. FIR in Crime No.46 of 2026 was registered by Chikkamagaluru Rural Police Station for the aforesaid offences against petitioner and another, based on the first information dated 06.02.2026, received from Sri Ventkatesha, brother of deceased Smt Rajeshwari. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.120 of 2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 16.03.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35610 CRL.P No. 10010 of 2026 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that, deceased Smt. Rajeshwari was married about 14 years prior to the date of incident. From the wedlock, two children were born to the couple, she was staying along with her husband and children within Chikkamagaluru Golf Club and the couple were doing coolie work in the said club. On 21.10.2025, Smt. Rajeshwari had committed suicide by hanging herself within the premises of the said club. Subsequently, a UDR case in UDR No.57 of 2025 was registered. Thereafter, belatedly on 06.02.2026, brother of the deceased had approached the police and based on his first information, FIR was registered against the petitioner and another. 5. A reading of the typed first information dated 06.02.2026 would reveal that allegation against the petitioner is that he had developed intimacy with the deceased and had borrowed money from her. Subsequently, he had not repaid the said money and cheques allegedly issued by the petitioner for repayment of the said amount were found in the bag of the deceased. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35610 CRL.P No. 10010 of 2026 6. Allegation against the petitioner is that having not repaid the money borrowed, he allegedly was threatening the deceased to circulate her photos in the social media. Petitioner, who has no other criminal antecedents has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. The inordinate delay of more than 3 months in approaching the police is not satisfactorily explained in the present case. Alleged offences are not punishable with death sentence or life imprisonment. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that, the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. 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.46 of 2026 registered by Chikkamagaluru Rural Police Station for the offence punishable under Section 108 R/w Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 subject to the following conditions: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35610 CRL.P No. 10010 of 2026 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.: 31