- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010372692026 NC: 2026:KHC:37053 CRL.P No. 7805 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION No. 7805 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SOFIAFLORENCE JOHNREX, W/O JOHNREX, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, R/AT DOOR No.8, MIG-1, TNHB PHASE 15, MULLAI NAGAR, RAYAKOTTAI ROAD, HOSUR P. O., KRISHNAGIRI, TAMIL NADU-635109. …PETITIONER (BY SRI ROHAN L., ADVOCATE FOR SRI LOKESH R.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE BY GANGAMMANA GUDI P. S., NEAR GANGAMMA GUDI CIRCLE, JALAHALLI EAST, BENGALURU-560013. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) Digitally signed by VINUTHA B S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010372692026 NC: 2026:KHC:37053 CRL.P No. 7805 of 2026 THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER/ ACCUSED No.5 ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN CR.No.0084/2026 OF GANGAMMANA GUDI POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 318(4), 340(2) R/W 3(5) OF THE BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF THE XLIX ACJM, BENGALURU CITY. 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 No.5 in Crime No.84/2026 registered by Gangamana Gudi Police Station, Bengaluru, for offences punishable under Section 318(4), 340(2) read with 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for the respondent-State. 3. FIR in Crime No.84/2026 was registered by Gangamana Gudi Police Station, Bengaluru for the aforesaid offences against Gloria and others based on the first information dated - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010372692026 NC: 2026:KHC:37053 CRL.P No. 7805 of 2026 05.05.2026 received from Prasanna Kumar M.R., son of M.V.Reddappa, In the said FIR, petitioner was arrayed as accused No.5. Apprehending arrest in the case, she had filed Crl.Misc.No.4799/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Judge, which was rejected on 29.05.2026. Therefore, she is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 05.05.2026, it is stated that the first informant is working as a Manager in a bank and accused No.1, who is the customer in the said bank was acquainted to him. He has alleged that accused No.1 had represented that she is working in Indian Railways and assured to provide employment to the younger brother of the first informant and accordingly, she had collected a sum of Rs.3,28,000/-. In the first information, it is alleged that petitioner herein is the sister of accused No.1 and accused No.1 had represented to the first informant that petitioner was working along with her. Except the said allegation, there is no other allegation alleged against the petitioner, who is a married woman, aged about 35 years. In the first information, it is stated that an amount of Rs.3,28,000/- was paid by the brother - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010372692026 NC: 2026:KHC:37053 CRL.P No. 7805 of 2026 of the first informant to accused No.1. Petitioner has undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Considering the nature of allegations against the petitioner who has no other criminal antecedents, I am of the opinion that her prayer for grant of anticipatory bail has to be answered affirmatively. 5. Accordingly, the following; ORDER (i) Petition is allowed. (ii) The respondent – Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner- accused No.5 in the event of her arrest in Crime No.84/2026 registered by Gangamana Gudi Police Station, Bengaluru, for offences punishable under Section 318(4), 340(2) read with 3(5) of BNS, subject to the following conditions: a) The Petitioner 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 before the concerned Court, for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010372692026 NC: 2026:KHC:37053 CRL.P No. 7805 of 2026 for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. b) Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. c) Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE MV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 67