- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010469772026 NC: 2026:KHC:36182 CRL.P No. 10178 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. 10178 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)-) BETWEEN: 1. JOSEPH JOHN P J AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, S/O SRI. JOY P.J., R/O PUNJEPPADY HOUSE, KOCHUKADAVANTHRA, KADAVANTHRA P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, KERALA 682020 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. P PRITHVI KIRAN SETTY.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY YESHWANTHPURA POLICE STATION, 9TH CROSS ROAD, ASHOKAPURAM, YESHWANTHPUR INDUSTRIAL SUBURB, MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT, BANGALORE - 560012 REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE – 560001 2. T. Y. JOY AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS S/O YACOB R/AT THEKADATH HOUSE, Digitally signed by DHANALAKSHMI MURTHY Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010469772026 NC: 2026:KHC:36182 CRL.P No. 10178 of 2026 NAYALTHODE PO ANGAMALY, ERNAKULAM, KERALA - 683572 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R1: R2 DELETED VIDE COURT ORDER DATED 15.07.2026) CRL.P FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO DIRECT HIS ENLARGEMENT ON BAIL IN RELATION TO THE CASE IN CRIME NO.0182/2026 OF YESHWANTHPURA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 108 AND 3(5) OF THE BNS, 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XLIX ADDL. CJM, BANGALORE, AT ANNEXURE -A ON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AS THIS HONBLE COURT DEEMS FIT, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused No. 2 in Crime No.182/2026 registered by Yeshwantpura Police Station, Bangalore for offences punishable under Section 108 r/w. 3(5) 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 petitioner and learned HCGP on behalf of respondent - State. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010469772026 NC: 2026:KHC:36182 CRL.P No. 10178 of 2026 3. FIR in Crime No.182/2026 was registered by Yeshwantpura Police Station, Bangalore for the aforesaid offences against Vaishnavi and the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 27.05.2026, received from T.Y. Joy, father of deceased Anusha Joy. In the said case, petitioner was arrested on 15.06.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl. Misc. No.5936/2026 was rejected on 06.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. A perusal of the first information submitted by the father of the deceased would go to show that deceased was earlier practicing as an advocate in Kerala, in the office of accused Nos. 1 and 2 in the present case. In the first information, it is alleged that deceased was financially exploited by accused Nos. 1 and 2 and she was harassed in her workplace at Kerala and, therefore, she had moved to Bengaluru and was working in a private company. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010469772026 NC: 2026:KHC:36182 CRL.P No. 10178 of 2026 5. It is alleged that deceased was forced to quit her career in Kerala and as a consequence, she had suffered mentally and had committed suicide. Petitioner, who is a practicing advocate in Kerala is in custody for the last nearly one month. Considering the nature of allegations as against him in the first information, I am of the opinion, his prayer for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, following: ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.182/2026 of Yeshwantpur Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 108 r/w. 3(5) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010469772026 NC: 2026:KHC:36182 CRL.P No. 10178 of 2026 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 CM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 35