- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010399922026 NC: 2026:KHC:36650 CRL.P No. 8434 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8434 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI RAGHAVENDRA @ RAGHU S/O GANGADHARAPPA AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS R/AT MADUGUR VILLAGE GOWRIBIDANURU TALUK - 561 210 CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI BASAVANNA M.D, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY GOWRIBIDANUR POLICE STATION PERASANDRA, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT, BY ITS GOVERNMENT PLEADER, HIGH COURT BUILDING COMPLEX, BANGALORE - 01. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT HIM AN ORDER OF REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.335/2025 (S.C.NO.20/2026) REG. BY THE GOWRIBIDANUR POLICE STATION FOR AN OFFENCE P/U/S 103(1) OF BNSS ACT, NOW THE SAME IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF FIRST ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT CHIKKABALLAPURA AND TO GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEFS. 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 CNR: KAHC010399922026 NC: 2026:KHC:36650 CRL.P No. 8434 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in SC No.20/2026 pending before the Court of I Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Chikkaballapura, arising out of Crime No.335/2025 registered by Gowribidanur Rural Police Station, Chikkaballapura, for the offence punishable under Section 103(1) of BNS, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.335/2025 was registered by Gowribidanur Rural Police Station, Chikkaballapura, for the aforesaid offence against the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 16.11.2025 received from Lakshminarayana, father of deceased Pavani. In the said case, petitioner, who is the husband of deceased was arrested on 17.11.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet has been filed against him for the aforesaid offence. His bail application filed before the Trial - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010399922026 NC: 2026:KHC:36650 CRL.P No. 8434 of 2026 Court in SC No.20/2026 was rejected on 29.04.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the first information submitted by the father of the deceased Pavani, it is stated that from the wedlock between petitioner and deceased, they have a minor son aged about 4 years. Petitioner, who is a lorry driver, was in the habit of consuming alcohol and abusing his wife regularly. On several occasions, panchayaths were held and on 10.11.2025, Pavani had returned to her parents' house along with her minor son. On 15.11.2025, she had returned to her husband's house and on the next day, she was found dead in her house. In the first information, it is stated that about 04.30 p.m. on 16.11.2025, first informant was informed by the petitioner that Pavani had died. Immediately thereafter, first informant went to the Hospital and noted marks on the neck of the deceased and it is under these circumstances, he had approached the police. 5. In the charge sheet which is filed after investigation, it is stated that petitioner, who had consumed alcohol had quarreled with his wife - Pavani at about 02.00 p.m. on 16.11.2025 and - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010399922026 NC: 2026:KHC:36650 CRL.P No. 8434 of 2026 this was informed by her to her parents. Petitioner, who got enraged for the reason that his wife had informed her parents about their quarrel, with the help of the veil which Pavani was wearing, strangulated her neck and committed her murder. It is not in dispute that petitioner was present in his house on 16.11.2025 when his wife had died. Records would reveal that immediately after the incident, he had informed to his neighbours that his wife had fallen on the ground and had injured herself. Medical records of the deceased would go to show that death due to asphyxia as a result of strangulation. Under the circumstances, prima facie case is made out by the prosecution for the alleged offence as against the petitioner. Therefore, I am of the opinion that at this stage, his prayer for grant of regular bail cannot be entertained. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed. SD/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 89