- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010401322026 NC: 2026:KHC:37736 CRL.P No. 8425 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8425 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI. M. MAHENDRA S/O LATE MANOHAR, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, R/AT NO. 467, 4TH MAIN, 4TH CROSS, NEAR SHANESHWARA TEMPLE, KAMALANAGARA, BANGALORE - 560 079. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. YOGESH G, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BASAVESHWARANAGAR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT BASAVESHWARANAGAR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 108 OF THE BNS IN CRIME NO.193/2026 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE XXIV ADDL.CMM BANGALORE. Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010401322026 NC: 2026:KHC:37736 CRL.P No. 8425 of 2026 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 in Crime No.193/2026 registered by Basaveshwara Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. 3. FIR in crime No.193/2026 was registered by Basaveshwara Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner based on the first information dated 17.05.2026, received from one Pavan B., who is the son of deceased Basavaraju. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed Crl.Mis.No.4988/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was dismissed on 08.06.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010401322026 NC: 2026:KHC:37736 CRL.P No. 8425 of 2026 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that the deceased Basavaraju, father of the first informant, had committed suicide in his house on 17.05.2026 by hanging himself. It is alleged that he had left behind a death note mentioning that the petitioner is the cause for his death. A perusal of the death note would reveal that the deceased had borrowed money from the petitioner and it is alleged that the petitioner was demanding high interest for the said money. It is also stated that since the deceased had not repaid the money borrowed, the petitioner allegedly had threatened that he would chain his vehicle. 5. The allegations found in the first information as well as in the death note do not suggest of any such act committed by the petitioner immediately before the deceased committed suicide, which would have either abetted or instigated the deceased to take the drastic step of committing suicide. The petitioner has no other criminal antecedents and has undertaken to cooperate with the police. Accordingly, this Court passes the following: - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010401322026 NC: 2026:KHC:37736 CRL.P No. 8425 of 2026 ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The respondent – Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.193/2026 registered by Basaveshwara Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) The Petitioner shall appear before the jurisdictional court 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 one sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the court. 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 they shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010401322026 NC: 2026:KHC:37736 CRL.P No. 8425 of 2026 d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 48