- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 7960 OF 2026 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8117 OF 2026 CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8311 OF 2026 IN CRL.P No. 7960/2026 BETWEEN: ACHUTHA RAJ S/O A.N. KANTHA RAJU, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, R/AT ARJUNAHALLI VILLAGE, K.R.NAGAR TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT - 571 601. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAMAKRISHNA A.V, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY KARNATAKA BY K.R. NAGAR POLICE STATION, MYSORE DISTRICT, REPTD. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CR.NO.181/2026 OF K.R.NAGAR P.S. FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/U/S 103(1), 54, 49 R/W 3(5) OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL.CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND J.M.F.C COURT K.R.NAGAR MYSORE DIST. AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE HIM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN THE SAID CRIME NUMBER. IN CRL.P NO. 8117/2026 BETWEEN: SRI. SATHYA NARAYANA T.N, S/O LATE NANDAKUMAR T.V AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS. R/AT. THIPPURU VILLAGE, K.R NAGAR TALUK, MYSURU DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. GAURAV SUBRAMANYAM, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY K.R NAGAR POLICE STATION, MYSURU REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT COMPLEX, BENGALURU - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWMAY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.P.C (U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.181/2026 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 IN K.R.NAGAR P.S., MYSORE DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 103(1), 54, 49 R/W 3(5) OF BNS, PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 K.R.NAGAR, MYSORE DISTRICT. IN CRL.P NO. 8311/2026 BETWEEN: MR. MANJUNATHA S/O LATE DEVARAJEGOWDA, AGE ABOUT 55 YEARS, R/AT ARJUNAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST, HOSA AGARAHARA HOBLI, K.R. NAGAR TALUK, MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 602. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. MANJUNATH GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. ROHITH B.J, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY K.R. NAGAR POLICE STATION, MYSURU DISTRICT, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN CRIME NO.181/2026 OF K.R.NAGAR POLICE STATION, MYSURU DISTRICT, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN.) AND JMFC, K.R.NAGAR, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 103(1), 54, 49 R/W SEC.3(5) OF THE BNS, 2023 AND PASS SUCH OTHER ORDER OR ORDERS AS THIS HONBLE COURT DEEMS FIT IN THE FACTS AND - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused Nos.8 to 10 in Crime No.181/2026 registered by K.R.Nagar Police Station, Mysore district for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 54, 49 r/w Section 3(5) of BNS 2023 are before this Court in these three petitions filed under Section 482 of BNSS 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.181/2026 was registered by K.R.Nagar Police Station, Mysore for the aforesaid offences against Rohith and others, based on the first information dated 06.05.2026 received from Kamakshi.K, second wife of deceased Ramesh Raju. Apprehending arrest in the said case petitioners who are arrayed as accused Nos.8 to 10 in the FIR had approached the Jurisdictional Sessions Court and their anticipatory bail - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 application was rejected. It is under these circumstances they are before this Court. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioners are agriculturists who have no other criminal antecedents. They had participated in the panchayath between the family members of the first and second wife of deceased Ramesh Raju. Allegation of assaulting the deceased and committing their murder is only found against accused No.1/Rohith. So far as the petitioners are concerned, the only allegation is that they had instigated Rohith to commit the murder of deceased Shreeharsha and Raghavendra, accordingly, they pray to allow the petitions. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP who has opposed the petition submits that investigation of the case is under progress. The truth will be revealed only after the investigation. He submits that considering the gravity of the alleged offences, in a incident in which two people have died, prayer made by the petitioners may be rejected. 6. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that deceased Ramesh Raju had two wives. First informant - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 Kamakshi.K is the second wife of deceased Ramesh Raju and deceased Shreeharsha and Raghavendra are the sons of Kamakshi.K. Accused No.2 in the present case namely Sudha is the first wife of deceased Ramesh Raju and accused No.1 Rohit is the son of Sudha and accused No.3 Harshitha is the wife of Rohith. 7. It appears that there was a dispute between the two wives of deceased Ramesh Raju and their children with regard to the property of Ramesh Raju and civil suits were pending between the parties. During the pendency of the said suit, efforts were made to settle the property dispute between the family members of Ramesh Raju and accordingly Panchayath was held by the villagers, including the petitioners herein, in the house of accused No.2/Sudha from 01.05.2026 to 06.05.2026. It appears that the panchayath had not yielded any result and after the panchayath was closed, accused No.1/Rohith, son of accused No.2 allegedly had sprinkled chilli powder on the eyes of Shreeharsha and Raghavendra and thereafter assaulted them with a sharp weapon and committed their murder. Allegation as against the petitioners herein, who had participated in the panchayath that was held in the house - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 of accused No.2 from 01.05.2026 to 06.05.2026, is that they had instigated accused No.1/Rohith to commit the murder of Shreeharsha and Raghavendra. 8. It is not in dispute that petitioners who are agriculturalists have no other criminal antecedents and they have undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. 9. Considering the nature of allegations found as against the petitioners, I am of the opinion that, prayer sought for anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: ORDER (i) The petitions are allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioners in the event of their arrest in Crime No.181/2026 registered by K.R.Nagar Police Station, Mysore District for the offences punishable under Section 103(1), 54, 49 r/w Section 3(5) of BNS 2023 are before this Court in - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010378182026 NC: 2026:KHC:36459 CRL.P No. 7960 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 8117 of 2026 CRL.P No. 8311 of 2026 this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioners shall be released subject to they executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigation officer; b) Petitioners shall regularly appear before the Trial Court on the date of hearing without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons; c) Petitioners shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon; d) The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE VS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 83