- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35213 CRL.P No. 7987 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. 7987 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)-) BETWEEN: SRI GURRAM SRIDHAR AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, S/O NAGESHWAR RAO, R/A # 3-40 AMEENPET, CHENNARAOPETA MDL. AMEENABAD, WARRANGAL 506122. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NATARAJA BALLAL A.,ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SOUTHEAST CEN CRIME P.S., H.S.R. LAYOUT, BENGALURU CITY, REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE 560001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HON'BLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CRIME NO.0013/2026 BEFORE SOUTH-EAST CEN CRIME POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 308 (2), 318(4), 319(2) OF THE BNS AND 66C AND 66D OF IT ACT, PASSED BY THE LRD. LXVIII ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35213 CRL.P No. 7987 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Petitioner is before this Court under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.13/2026 registered by South East CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 308(2), 318(4) and 319(2) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.13/2026 was registered by South East CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru, for the aforesaid offences against unknown persons, based on first information dated 09.01.2026 received from Sitalakshmi, W/o Shankararaman, aged about 74 years. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner herein had filed Crl.Misc.No.2671/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was dismissed on 23.04.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35213 CRL.P No. 7987 of 2026 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Bank account of the petitioner in City Union Bank, Warangal was opened by his friend Kulla Prashant and it was also operated by him. Petitioner has not withdrawn any amount from his bank account. Petitioner is ready and willing to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Accordingly, he prays to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP, who has opposed the petition submits that huge amount of Rs.25,00,000/- was transferred to the account of the petitioner on various dates and out of the same, Rs.18 lakhs has been withdrawn. Balance amount has been now freezed during the course of investigation. Petitioner is involved in other criminal cases registered in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal, wherein huge amount was transferred to the bank account of the petitioner. Accordingly, he prays to dismiss the petition. 6. In the first information submitted by the alleged victim, who is a retired Senior Citizen, she has stated that on 05.01.2026, she received a phone call and the caller informed her that her Aaadhar card number is linked with illegal phone - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35213 CRL.P No. 7987 of 2026 connection. Subsequently, she received another phone call from one Suresh Anurag, who informed her that they were investigating a money laundering case and asked her to close her fixed deposits, mutual funds and to deposit the same in her bank account. Further, as per his instructions, she allegedly transferred the amount from her bank account to the bank account of the petitioner herein in City Union Bank, Warangal. 7. During the course of investigation, police have collected documents which would go to show that amount of Rs.25,00,000/- from the account of the first informant was transferred to the bank account of the petitioner and out of the same, Rs.18,00,000/- has been withdrawn. It is brought to the notice of this Court by learned HCGP that in addition to the aforesaid amount of Rs.25,00,000/-, huge amount was also transferred to the bank account of the petitioner in the other criminal cases which are registered in various States as against the petitioner. Under the circumstances, explanation offered by the petitioner cannot be accepted. Considering the nature of allegations against the petitioner, custodial interrogation of the petitioner becomes very much necessary. Under the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35213 CRL.P No. 7987 of 2026 circumstances, I am not inclined to entertain this petition. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 63