- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010482302026 NC: 2026:KHC:36804 CRL.P No. 10397 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10397 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. SRI. PRAVEEN KUMAR C.J., S/O JAGANATHAPPA. N, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/AT-WARD.NO.01, BRAHMANA STREET, BESIDE GAYATHRI BHAVANA, HOSKOTE TALUK, BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT - 562 114. 2. SRI.M.RAJAREDDY, S/O LATE MADDAREDDY, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, R/AT MADDEMMA DEVI NILAYA, WARD.NO.06, ROYAL SCHOOL CIRCLE, ANJANI EXTENTION, CHINTAMANI TOWN, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 563 125. 3. SRI. SRINIVASA.M.R, S/O RAMAKRISHNAPPA.V, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, R/AT.MUNGANAHALLI VILLAGE, CHINTAMANI TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 563 125. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. NARAYANASWAMY K.N., ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010482302026 NC: 2026:KHC:36804 CRL.P No. 10397 of 2026 AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY SHIDLAGHATTA RURAL POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI.RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONERS ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL U/S 482 OF THE BNSS 2023 AND DIRECTED TO RESPONDENT POLICE IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST RELEASE THE PETITIONERS ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.171/2026 OF RESPONDENT SHIDLAGHATTA RURAL POLICE STATION, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 3 AND 7 OF THE ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT 1955 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL.CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC SHIDLAGHATTA. 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 Nos.3 to 5 in Crime No. 171/2026 registered by Sidlaghatta Police Station, Chikkaballapura District for - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010482302026 NC: 2026:KHC:36804 CRL.P No. 10397 of 2026 the offences punishable under Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 are before this Court, in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and learned HCGP for the respondent. 3. FIR in Crime No. 171/2026 was registered by Sidlaghatta Rural Police Station, Chikkaballapura District for the aforesaid offences against Rambelas Das and others based on the first information dated 25.06.2026 received from Sunil Kumar, Police Officer attached to Sidlaghatta Rural Police Station. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioners had filed Crl.Misc.No.188/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which came to be rejected on 10.07.2026. Therefore, they are before this Court. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010482302026 NC: 2026:KHC:36804 CRL.P No. 10397 of 2026 4. Petitioners are said to be working as outsource employees in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies. It appears that on 25.06.2026, based on credible information received the vehicle bearing registration No. KA-53-A- 4783 which was transporting wheat bags was intercepted, accused Nos. 1 and 2 were apprehended and from the aforesaid vehicle the wheat bags which were meant to be distributed under Public Distribution System were recovered. It appears that accused Nos. 1 and 2 on enquiry had informed the police that on the instructions of the petitioners herein they were transporting the wheat bags in the aforesaid lorry. It is under these circumstances, the petitioners are also arrayed as accused in the FIR. Petitioners who have no other criminal antecedents have undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Considering the nature of allegation and the stage of investigation, the prayer made by the petitioners for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010482302026 NC: 2026:KHC:36804 CRL.P No. 10397 of 2026 answered affirmatively, subject to the appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: ORDER The Criminal Petition is 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.171/2026 registered by Sidlaghatta Rural Police Station, Chikkaballapura District registered for the offences punishable under Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010482302026 NC: 2026:KHC:36804 CRL.P No. 10397 of 2026 2. Petitioners shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioners shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE BVK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 45