- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010451782026 NC: 2026:KHC:38467 CRL.P No. 9690 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 9690 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MAHADEVA PRASAD N S/O NAGAPPA AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS R/AT HIMAVAD GOPALASWAMY BETTA ROAD, HANGALA GUNDLUPETE TALUK CHAMARAJANAGAR - 571 126. …PETITIONER (BY SRI PARAMESWARAPPA C, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY RANGE OFFICER MADDUR WILDLIFE RANGE BANDIPUR TIGER RESERVE GUNDLUPETE RANGE CHAMARAJANAGARA - 571 126 REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.P.C (U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO RELEASE HIM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE WLOR NO.1/2026-27 REGISTERED BY MADDUR WILDLIFE RANGE, BANDIPUR TIGER RESERVE, CHAMARAJANAGARA, PENDING BEFORE THE LEARNED SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, GUNDLUPETE, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 27(1)(4) OF WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1972. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010451782026 NC: 2026:KHC:38467 CRL.P No. 9690 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 1. Accused no.1 in WLOR No.1/2026-27 registered by the Range Forest Officer, Maddur Wildlife Range, Bandipura Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagara, for the offence punishable under Sections 27(1)(4) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties. 3. First information is submitted in the present case against petitioner and two others based on a photograph, which was circulated in social media wherein accused persons, named in the FIR, were found within the reserve forest area, consuming alcohol. After identifying the persons who were seen in the photograph, the Range Forest Officer had registered a criminal case against them with an allegation that they had trespassed into the reserve forest area and thereby, committed the alleged offence. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010451782026 NC: 2026:KHC:38467 CRL.P No. 9690 of 2026 4. It is not in dispute that petitioner do not have any criminal antecedents. He has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. The maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of three years. Accused nos.2 & 3 have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.9161/2026 disposed of on 10.07.2026. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following order:- 5. The petition is allowed. 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 WLOR No.1/2026-27 registered by the Range Forest Officer, Maddur Wildlife Range, Bandipura Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagara, for the offence punishable under Sections 27(1)(4) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010451782026 NC: 2026:KHC:38467 CRL.P No. 9690 of 2026 of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioner 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 petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK