- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010421402026 NC: 2026:KHC:36256 CRL.P No. 8903 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8903 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI SIDDESH G.M AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS S/O. MAHADEVA SWAMY RESIDING AT NO.113 5TH MAIN, 8TH CROSS JANANI PALMWOOD SARDAR VALLAB BHAI PATEL NAGAR, MYSORE - 570 028 PERMANENTLY AT GOOLIPURA VILLAGE, SANTHE MARANAHALLI HOBLI, CHAMRAJ NAGAR TALUK AND DISTRICT - 571 313. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SAMEER SHARMA, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH THE PSI, MANDYA EAST POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BR AMBEDKAR ROAD, BANGALORE - 01. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER HEREIN AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 316(2), 318(2), AND 318(4) OF THE BNS 2023 IN THE CR.NO.79/2026 REGISTERED BY THE MANDYA EAST P.S. BEFORE IV ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, MANDYA. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010421402026 NC: 2026:KHC:36256 CRL.P No. 8903 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. Accused in Crime No.79/2026 registered by Mandya East Police Station, Mandya, for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(2), 318(4) 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.79/2026 was registered by Mandya East Police Station, Mandya, for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 23.05.2026 received from Gurushankar - Partner of a firm known as Babu Agro Services Centre. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl. Misc. No.482/2026before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 11.06.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010421402026 NC: 2026:KHC:36256 CRL.P No. 8903 of 2026 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that the first informant is a Partner in a firm which appears to be dealing with machineries used for the purpose of agriculture. Petitioner who was introduced to the first informant in the year 2022 was subsequently given dealership on 01.11.2022. The allegation as against the petitioner is that for the period from 01.11.2022 to 18.09.2024, he has totally misappropriated a sum of Rs.2,67,97,204/-. 5. In the petition, it is pleaded that in the year 2024 itself, the petitioner has exited from the dealership of Babu Agro Services Centre. In respect of the alleged misappropriation for the period from 01.11.2022 to 18.09.2024, first information was belatedly submitted on 23.05.2026. No explanation whatsoever has been given for the inordinate delay of more than one year eight months in approaching the police. It is not in dispute that petitioner has no criminal antecedents. The alleged offences are triable by the Court of Magistrate and the maximum punishment for the same is imprisonment for a period of seven years. Petitioner has undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Under the - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010421402026 NC: 2026:KHC:36256 CRL.P No. 8903 of 2026 circumstances, I am of the opinion that petitioner's prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is required to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: 5. The 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.79/2026 registered by Mandya East Police Station, Mandya, for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(2), 318(4) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. Petitioner shall appear before the Investigation Officer on 27.07.2026 and on the said date, the Investigation Officer shall be at liberty to take him into custody if necessary for the purpose of interrogation. However, it is made clear that after interrogation, Investigation Officer shall release the petitioner on the same day on or before 06.00 p.m. subject to petitioner 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. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010421402026 NC: 2026:KHC:36256 CRL.P No. 8903 of 2026 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 KK