- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010395892026 NC: 2026:KHC:38392 CRL.P No. 8287 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. 8287 OF 2026 BETWEEN: KUM. RAMYA D/O RAJU, AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS, OCC: LABOURER, R/O UDABE KELAGOOR VILLAGE, ALDURU HOBLI, CHIKKAMAGALURU TALUK-577111 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. CHINNAPPA GOWDA D.G., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MUDIGERE POLICE STATION, MUDIGERE CIRCLE, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT-577 132 (REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, 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 ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CR.NO.80/2025 REGISTERED BY MUDIGERE P.S., CHIKKAMAGALURU, CHARGE SHEET IS FILED FOR THE Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010395892026 NC: 2026:KHC:38392 CRL.P No. 8287 of 2026 OFFENCES P/U/S 77, 319 OF BNS, 2023 (CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS U/S 354(C), 416/419 OF IPC) U/S 66(E), 67(A), 66(D) OF I.T ACT, 2000, PENDING BEFORE THE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC, MUDIGERE, IN THE EVENT OF THE ARREST. 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. Petitioner who is apprehending arrest in Crime No.80 of 2025 registered by Mudigere Police Station, Chikkamagaluru, for offences punishable under Sections 77 & 319 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 66(E), 67(A) & 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2000 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. FIR in the present case was registered against one Sumanth, based on the first information dated 21.05.2025 received from the victim girl, aged 21 years. In the typed first information, it is stated that, victim got acquainted to Sumanth - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010395892026 NC: 2026:KHC:38392 CRL.P No. 8287 of 2026 in the year 2024 and were exchanging messages in Instagram application. Sumanth allegedly had promised to marry the victim and in the month of December, 2024, he had made a video call to her and had asked her to remove her dress. Accordingly, the victim had undressed herself and Sumant allegedly had video recorded the same, and subsequently, uploaded it in Instagram application and also forwarded the same to the relatives of the victim girl. 4. Petitioner aged 19 years is the cousin of the victim. Only allegation made as against the petitioner in the first information is that she had received the video recording of the victim from Sumanth who is arraigned as accused in the FIR. Investigation of the case is now completed and charge sheet has been filed only as against the petitioner herein, on the allegation that it was the petitioner who had called the victim girl on mobile and had asked her to undress and thereafter video recorded the same. However, in the first information, it is stated that Sumanth had made a video call and had requested the alleged victim to remove her dress. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010395892026 NC: 2026:KHC:38392 CRL.P No. 8287 of 2026 5. Allegation now in the charge sheet is that it was the petitioner who was using the Instagram account in the name of Sumanth. Maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years. The petitioner is a girl aged about 19 years having no other criminal antecedents. Investigation of the case is already completed. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the petitioner's prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is to be answered in affirmative. 6. Accordingly, the following:- ORDER (i) The Criminal 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 her arrest in Crime No.80 of 2025 registered by Mudigere Police Station, Chikkamagaluru, for offences punishable under Sections 77 & 319 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 66(E), 67(A) & 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2000, subject to the following conditions: - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010395892026 NC: 2026:KHC:38392 CRL.P No. 8287 of 2026 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. The petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and she 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 NMS/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 52