- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35708 CRL.P No. 8195 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. 8195 OF 2026 BETWEEN: NAGA SWAPNA M V, W/O.KRISHNA MURTHY M.V, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER, JONES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PVT. LTD., REG. OFFICE AT NO.648, BKN AMBARAM ESTATE, 1ST FLOOR, 1ST MAIN, 1ST STAGE, BINNAMANGALA, INDRANAGAR, BENGALURU - 560038. …PETITIONER (BY SRI PRASHANTH R., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY INDIRANAGAR POLICE, BENGALURU, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BENGALURU 560001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE THIS PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN CRIME NO.159/2026 REGISTERED BY INDIRANAGARA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/S/U 316(2),318(4) Digitally signed by BELUR RANGADHAMA NANDINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35708 CRL.P No. 8195 of 2026 OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE 4tH ADDL CMM COURT, BENGALURU AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Petitioner who is apprehending arrest in Crime No.159/2026 registered by Indiranagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offence punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(4) of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader on behalf of respondent-State. 3. FIR in Crime No.159/2026 was registered by Indiranagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for the aforesaid offences against Stephen Arthur Jones and the Management of his Company known as Jones Property Management - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35708 CRL.P No. 8195 of 2026 Private Limited based on the first information dated 11.05.2026 received from Clifford Royan D. 4. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Criminal Miscellaneous No.5040/2026 before the Trial Court which was rejected on 29.05.2026. Therefore, the petitioner is before this Court. 5. In the first information dated 11.05.2026, which is filed by the Sub-Inspector of Police, Indiranagar Police Station, the first informant has stated that he was looking for a property in the month of June-2025 and he had contacted one Abdul of Jones Property Management Private Limited, and he had shown several three bed room houses in HBR Layout and the first informant had paid an amount of Rs.50,000/- in advance to the Company for their services. Subsequently, he paid money to the Company in installment. Totally a sum of Rs.21,00,000/- was paid to the account of the Company for the purpose of taking a house in Grace Town, Hennur main road, Bangalore on lease. Accordingly, on 12.08.2025 a lease agreement was executed in his favour - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35708 CRL.P No. 8195 of 2026 and he was paying a rent of Rs.50,000/- per month to the Company. Subsequently, he came to know from the owner of the house, that the Company had not paid monthly rentals. Therefore, he was asked to vacate the premises. It is under these circumstances, he had approached the Police and submitted first information based on which FIR was registered against the owner of the Company and also the Company. 6. The petitioner who is aged 42 years, is a married lady and she has stated that she was working as Chief Human Resources Officer in the aforesaid Company. It is not in dispute that she has not received any money directly from the victim in the present case. She has undertaken to co-operate with the Investigation Officer for the purpose of investigation. 7. Under these circumstances, I am of the opinion that, prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered in the affirmative, subject to appropriate conditions. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35708 CRL.P No. 8195 of 2026 8. Accordingly, the following: ORDER (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The respondent - Police or any other Police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of her arrest in Crime No.159/2026 registered by Indiranagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offence punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(4) of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. Petitioner is directed to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case on 22.07.2026 at 10:30 a.m., and on the said date, Investigating Officer is at liberty to take the petitioner to custody for the purpose of interrogation. However, it is made clear that on the same date on or before 06:00 p.m., petitioner shall be released subject to the petitioner executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (One lakh only) with - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35708 CRL.P No. 8195 of 2026 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 shall co-operate with the Police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. Petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE GVP List No.: 1 Sl No.: 81