- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010382442026 NC: 2026:KHC:36641 CRL.P No. 8004 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. 8004 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI SURESH P.B. @ PRAJWAL @ DUBHASHI S/O. BALAKRISHNA AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS R/O, PALAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST, CHURCH STREET SRIRANGAPATNA TALUK MANDYA - 571 438. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SUNIL KUMAR G.A, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL IN S.C.NO.5044/2025 (IN CRIME NO.16/2025 OF SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE) FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 189(2), 191(3), 49, 54, 61(2)(A), 115(2), 238, 118, 352, 249, 103(1), 109(1), 190 OF BNS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE III ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, MANDYA (SITTING AT SRIRANGAPATNA). 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: KAHC010382442026 NC: 2026:KHC:36641 CRL.P No. 8004 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.4 in S.C.No.5044/2025 pending before the Court of III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya (Sitting at Srirangapatna) arising out of Crime No.16/2025 registered by the Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya City, for the offences punishable under Sections 189(2), 191(3), 49, 54, 61(2)(a), 115(2), 238, 118, 352, 249, 103(1), 109(1) and 190 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.16/2025 was registered by Srirangapatna Town Police Station, Mandya, against one Pramod and others based on the first information dated 19.01.2025 received from Shruthi, sister of deceased Supreeth. During the course of investigation, petitioner herein was arrested on 04.04.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completion of investigation, charge sheet has been filed in the present case as against 22 persons. The petitioner herein is arraigned as accused No.4 in - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010382442026 NC: 2026:KHC:36641 CRL.P No. 8004 of 2026 the Charge Sheet. The bail application filed by the petitioner before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in S.C.No.5044/2025 was rejected on 02.12.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is no overt act alleged as against the petitioner in the present case. The allegation as against the petitioner is about conspiracy and he was not even present at the spot of crime. Accused Nos.11 and 12 as against whom similar allegations are found in the charge sheet have been granted regular bail by this Court. He submits that in the other criminal cases registered against the petitioner, he has been enlarged on bail. Accordingly, he prays to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, learned Addl. SPP, who has opposed the petition submits that petitioner is a person with criminal antecedents and he has played major role in committing the crime. Accordingly, he prays to dismiss the petition. 6. According to the prosecution, accused persons had ill-will against the deceased Supreeth @ Suppi and therefore, they had conspired to commit his murder. In furtherance of such - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010382442026 NC: 2026:KHC:36641 CRL.P No. 8004 of 2026 conspiracy, on 18.01.2025, the accused persons had gone near the house of Supreeth. When accused Nos.1, 2, 3, 5, 6 - 11 came to the spot of crime, only CW2 was present and aforesaid accused after enquiring about the whereabouts of Supreeth, allegedly assaulted CW2. Allegations of assaulting CW2 with deadly weapons is found in the charge sheet only as against accused Nos.1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Subsequently, Supreeth also came to the said spot and thereafter accused Nos.1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 allegedly assaulted Supreeth with deadly weapons and when he fell down accused Nos.2 and 3 allegedly dropped a stone on his head and committed his murder. 7. Insofar as the petitioner is concerned, allegation against him in the charge sheet is that, he along with accused Nos.7, 8, 9, 10, 16 and 18 were waiting at a distance and were watching the movements of the public with an intention to give information to the accused persons who were at the spot of crime. Except the said allegations, there is no other allegation as against the petitioner. Accused Nos.11 and 12 as against whom there is an allegation of conspiracy have been granted regular bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.911/2026 and - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010382442026 NC: 2026:KHC:36641 CRL.P No. 8004 of 2026 Crl.P.No.14023/2025. It is not in dispute that in the other criminal cases registered against the petitioner, he has been already enlarged on bail. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that accused Nos.7, 8, 9, 10, 16 and 18 as against whom similar allegations are found in the charge sheet have been granted regular bail by the learned Sessions Judge. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order:- 8. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in S.C.No.5044/2025 pending before the III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya (Sitting at Srirangapatna) arising out of Crime No.16/2025 registered by the Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya City, for the offences punishable under Sections 189(2), 191(3), 49, 54, 61(2)(a), 115(2), 238, 118, 352, 249, 103(1), 109(1) and 190 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010382442026 NC: 2026:KHC:36641 CRL.P No. 8004 of 2026 likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) The petitioner shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts his appearance for valid reasons; c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future; e) The petitioner shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against him is disposed off. SD/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 73