- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010412552026 NC: 2026:KHC:38229 CRL.P No. 8702 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8702 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MR. SIVARAMA PRASAD MANDALA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, SON OF MR. LAXMANA MANDALA, RESIDING AT 1-6-43/29, PLOT NO. 29, OLD ALWAL, SATYAMMA NAGAR COLONY, ALWAL, HYDERABAD - 500 010 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. C.K. NANDAKUMAR, SR. ADVOCATE FOR SRI. RAGHURAM CADAMBI, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY H.A.L. POLICE STATION, H.A.L. OLD AIRPORT ROAD, SECTOR 3, MARATHAHALLI, BENGALURU - 560 037 REPRESENTED BY ITS SPP, HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY .R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT THE PETITIONER ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE FIR IN CRIME NO.255/2026 ON THE FILE OF THE Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010412552026 NC: 2026:KHC:38229 CRL.P No. 8702 of 2026 HAL POLICE STATION, BENGALURU U/S.420, 465, 468 OF IPC 1860 ON THE FILE OF THE JURISDICTIONAL MAGISTRATE XXIX ADDL CJM BENGALURU. THIS CRL.P, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.255 of 2026 registered by HAL Police Station, Bengaluru for offences punishable under Sections 420, 465 and 468 of IPC is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.255 of 2026 was registered by HAL Police Station, Bengaluru for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 02.06.2026 received from Sri Ranu Gupta S/o R C Gupta, Deputy General Manager, HAL, Bengaluru. Apprehending arrest - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010412552026 NC: 2026:KHC:38229 CRL.P No. 8702 of 2026 in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.25533 of 2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, Bengaluru and thereafter, he had approached this Court in this petition seeking anticipatory bail. 4. This criminal petition was filed before this Court on 18.06.2026. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that, Crl.Misc.No.25533 of 2026 was pending consideration before the Sessions Court as on the day, this Criminal petition was filed. Though Crl.Misc.No.25533 of 2026 was not disposed of, registry of this Court had not raised any office objection with regard to the maintainability of this petition and therefore, unmindful of the fact that Crl.Misc.No.25533 of 2026 was not disposed of by the jurisdictional Sessions Court, as on the date of filing of this Criminal petition, vide order dated 01.07.2026 this Court has granted interim bail to the petitioner after considering the arguments addressed by learned counsels appearing on both sides. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010412552026 NC: 2026:KHC:38229 CRL.P No. 8702 of 2026 5. It appears that after filing of this criminal petition, Crl.Misc.No.25533 of 2026 was subsequently withdrawn before the jurisdictional Sessions court on 23.06.2026. 6. In normal circumstances this Court will not entertain bail petition which is filed directly before this Court unless exceptional circumstances are made out. No such exceptional circumstances is found in the present case. However, the fact remains that this Court has granted interim bail to the petitioner on 01.07.2026. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that, if this petition is disposed of, continuing the said interim order for a period of two weeks, with a direction to the petitioner to file a fresh petition before the jurisdictional Sessions Court seeking anticipatory bail, the same would serve the ends of justice. 7. Accordingly, the following:- ORDER (i) Criminal petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to approach the - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010412552026 NC: 2026:KHC:38229 CRL.P No. 8702 of 2026 jurisdictional Sessions Court seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.255 of 2026 registered by HAL Police Station, Bengaluru for offences punishable under Sections 420, 465 and 468 of IPC. (ii) The order of interim bail granted by this Court to the petitioner on 01.07.2026 shall continue for a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 62