- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35063 CRL.P No. 7574 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 7574 OF 2026 BETWEEN: PRAHALADA HANGERI S/O. HANUMANTHANAIK, AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS, OCC.-DSA (DIRECT SALE AGENT) OF BANK OF BARODA, R/AT D.NO.2202/2, 5TH MAIN, MCC 'A' BLOCK, NEAR PURANTAR HOSPITAL, DAVANGERE- 577004. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. DINESHKUMAR RAO K., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY DAVANGERE EXTENSION POLICE STATION, DAVANGERE-577002. (RESPONDENT IS REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BENGALURU - 560 001.) …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN CR.NO.207/2025 OF DAVANAGERE EXTENSION P.S DAVANAGERE PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE II ADDL. CIVIL Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35063 CRL.P No. 7574 of 2026 JUDGE AND J.M.F.C COURT DAVANAGERE (REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISAHBLE UNDER SECTIONS 316(2), 316(5), 336(2), 336(3), 318(4), 336(1), 340(2), 61 R/W 3(5) OF BNS 2023. 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 No.1 is Crime No.207/2025 registered by Davanagere Extension Police Station, Davanagere for offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 336(1), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 61 read with 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.207/2025 was registered by Davanagere Extension Police Station, Davanagere for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner and two others based on the first information dated 17.10.2025 received from KVSS Ramacharyulu, an authorized representative of - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35063 CRL.P No. 7574 of 2026 Bank of Baroda. Apprehending arrest in the case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.58/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court at Davanagere, which was rejected on 02.02.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that petitioner was working as a Direct Sale Agent for Bank of Baroda at Davanagere and his job appears to be to facilitate for availing loan to the intended borrowers. Allegation made in the first information is that, accused No.2 and 3 who were introduced by the petitioner to the Bank, had availed loan from the Bank by depositing title deeds of certain documents and subsequently, it was found that the documents were fraudulent documents. It is under these circumstances, FIR was registered against the petitioner and the borrowers. 5. It is brought to the notice of this Court that the borrower has been granted anticipatory bail by the jurisdictional Sessions Court. The petitioner aged about 72 - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35063 CRL.P No. 7574 of 2026 years, has no other criminal antecedent, except three other cases registered along with the present case with similar allegations. In those cases, by even dated order, petitioner is granted anticipatory bail by this Court. The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Under the circumstances, I pass 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.207/2025 registered by Davanagere Extension Police Station, Davanagere for offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 336(1), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 61 read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35063 CRL.P No. 7574 of 2026 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. 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 MCR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 54.2